This wine blew me away. The 2009 Barolo Riserva Granbussia is a proud achievement and an expression of rare beauty. This wine will be released this fall, some nine years after the harvest. Only 3,000 bottles were produced. The Granbussia narrative is one of elegance and refinement. The fruit comes from two vineyard parcels in the greater Bussia cru and was co-fermented (instead of being blended after malolactic fermentation). So much fruit was dropped during the summer growing cycle that the harvest came later than usual. This allowed for slow, even ripening and a deeper sense of aromatic complexity that you immediately identify here. The nose is redolent of wet earth and autumnal leaf with white truffle and forest berry. The wine offers extreme Nebbiolo purity with anise seed, tar and licorice.

This is beginning to open, with fragrant cherry, rose, leather and sweet spice aromas and flavors. Vibrant and intense, with a terrific finish of sweet fruit, spice, tar and mineral notes. Shows fine presence and harmony, yet this should only improve over the next decade. Best from 2018 through 2030. 250 cases made, 48 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barolo Select to Add

The 2008 Barolo Riserva Granbussia is an unexpected wine and is perhaps the least characteristic of the three Granbussia vintages presented in this mini vertical. The wine opens to a deeply ruby red color and bright aromas that show some very distant touches of jam or marmalade. This is a big surprise given the generally cooler conditions of the vintage. Franco Conterno tells me fruit was harvested very late —at great risk—during the first week of November. The Nebbiolo grape loves a long growing season. The aromas are dense and dark with blackberry, plum and black fruit. Those super charged tones continue with leather, spice and tar.

A terrific red from start to finish. The fireworks start with aromas of cherry, licorice, sandalwood and tar, augmented by intense flavors and a juicy texture. Long, complete and complex, offering beautifully integrated tannins. Drink now through 2030. 250 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barolo Select to Add

The 2006 Barolo Riserva Granbussia is exceedingly "Piemontese" in character. The wine follows in local tradition with a bouquet that is ethereal and fine, yet powerful and long-lasting at the same time. It is shy and reticent at first, but once it starts to open the wine seemingly never stops. There are notes of black fruit, spice, tar, licorice, pencil shaving and a touch of rusty nail. The wine shows beautiful finesse and will definitely endure a long and prosperous drinking window. The tannins show silky integration and there is an enormous push of power and persistence in the palate.