The 2006 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell’Annunziata is compelling in its open-knit, floral bouquet of freshly cut roses, cherries and raspberries. Sweet, round and perfumed, the wine possesses an appealing combination of elegance wedded to power. Layers of inner perfume continue to develop in the glass, showcasing the unique qualities of one of Piedmont’s top sites. This is an immensely promising Barolo from Scavino with several decades of fine drinking ahead. Today the 2006 comes across as more muscular than the decidedly refined 2004. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. This is a wonderful set of new wines from Enrico Scavino and his daughters Enrica and Elisa. The dark, almost impenetrable color of the 1990s is gone and these Barolos now look like Barolos. To be sure, Scavino’s wines are still characterized by a plushness and opulence of fruit that sets them apart. Yet all of these 2006 Barolos reveal exceptional length, beautifully balanced tannins and gorgeous overall harmony. They should be on anyone’s short list of must-have wines. The Barolos are fermented in stainless steel, undergo malolactic fermentation in French oak and are subsequently aged for a year in French oak barrels followed by a second year in cask. Importer: Banville & Jones Wine Merchants, New York, NY; tel. (204) 294-4899