Pira's 2003 Barolo Marenca is made in a similarly rich, powerful style, yet it also possesses more depth in its fruit to balance the wine's hefty structural components. Sweet and ample on the palate, it gradually reveals new leather and roasted coffee notes that complement the fruit and add further complexity. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2018. Giampaolo Pira's style favors rich, super concentrated expressions of Nebbiolo. In 2003 that could have been a recipe for over the top wines, except that Pira is based in Serralunga and therefore had the benefit of working with some of the sites that were among the most favored in this vintage. The only exception is his Vigna Rionda, which is made from a parcel he replanted just a few years ago, and where the vines clearly struggled. Pira favors a mix of small and medium size French oak barrels along with medium-size casks for most of his wines, and keeps the percentage of new oak between 20-25%. Only the Vigna Rionda is aged exclusively in small new French oak barrels. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411