The 2005 Barolo Le Coste is rich, round wine loaded with ripe dark fruit, spices and sweet scents of French oak. With time in the glass, the wine’s inner perfume emerges, offering layers of violets and black cherries that add further complexity. This fresh, vibrant Barolo needs at least another year or two in bottle for the broad tannins to integrate, but it is another very strong effort from Grimaldi. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2023. Proprietor Ferruccio Grimaldi continues to show improvement, and these are the finest Barolos I have tasted from him thus far. The wines show more Nebbiolo expressiveness and better use of oak than has been the case in the past. 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

The 2005 Barolo is a deep, dense effort loaded with dark fruit, spices and sweet toasted oak. A rich, round Barolo, this medium-bodied offering shows lovely balance and a long, polished finish, all of which makes it an excellent choice for near-term drinking. Most of the fruit for this bottling comes from the Via Nuova vineyard in the town of Barolo. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2015. Proprietor Ferruccio Grimaldi continues to show improvement, and these are the finest Barolos I have tasted from him thus far. The wines show more Nebbiolo expressiveness and better use of oak than has been the case in the past.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

Raspberry, lemon and blackberry aromas lead to a full-bodied palate, with toasty oak, coffee and berry flavors and full, velvety tannins. Best after 2012. 400 cases made, 300 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barolo Select to Add