The 2001 Barbaresco Riserva Rabaja caps off this magical series of 2001 Barbarescos. It could not be more different from the Asili in its expression. It is a massively endowed, austere Barbaresco that fully captures the essence of the Rabaja vineyard in its explosive, deeply spiced balsamic nose, layers of sweet dark fruit and big, imposing structure. After 30 minutes in the glass, this magical wine is still opening up and my sense is that, even after having tasted this wine three times within the last year, it is still holding back a lot of its ultimate potential. With each successive tasting this wine continues to integrate its new oak (it was aged in a two-year old 55 hectoliter cask). The 2001 is a profound, breathtaking wine, although readers should note that stylistically it is a fairly contemporary wine from this estate. An Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa bottling. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2026. Importer: Winebow, Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

The 2001 Barbaresco Rabaja is simply the greatest wine from this vineyard I have ever tasted. Superbly rich with a potent nose of plums, dried roses, leather, resin, and spice, it is equally impressive in flavor, intense, warm, and concentrated, the packed texture and virile tannins perfectly balanced by the roundness of the texture and the polish of the finish. I would consider this a must purchase for anyone seriously interested in investigating the best in Nebbiolo from Barbaresco. Drink: 2005-2020. Importer: Winebow, Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620