The 2006 Barbaresco Rio Sordo is surprisingly austere and clenched for this wine. Still, there is enough inner perfume and fruit to make me think the 2006 will come around with a few more years in bottle. Today the early appeal of most vintages is elusive, but the wine's length and sense of balance bode well for the future. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. Proprietor Giovanna Rizzolio makes pretty, understated Barbareschi that are well worth discovering. The Barbaresco Tre Stelle is a new bottling made from one of the recently designated subzones in Barbaresco. Depending on who you speak with, Tre Stelle may nor may not have once been part of Rio Sordo. Regardless, it will be interesting to see what these wines are capable of now that wines can carry the Tre Stelle designation. Personally, I prefer the Rio Sordo here, but it is too soon to reach any definitive judgments. Importer: La Famiglia Corona Importers, LLC, Baton Rouge, LA; tel. (225) 650-9030

Strawberry, cream and floral aromas lead to a medium body, with fine tannins and a silky, fresh finish. Very refined. Best after 2009. 285 cases made, 150 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barbaresco Select to Add