Developed undergrowth, leather and floral, making the wine seem older than it is. Dry, dense tannins but a light finish.

I tasted four separate Barolos, including three single vineyard wines. My favorite is the 1990 Barolo Cru Bofani. It possesses a superb, multi-dimensional bouquet of herbs, tobacco, smoke, black fruits, and licorice. Great richness combined with outstanding delineation among its component parts, full body, and an explosive finish have combined to result in a lusty, decadently-styled Barolo. It can be drunk now or cellared for 15 or more years. This is an impressive performance from Batasiolo.Batasiolo is one of the largest vineyard owners in Piedmont, owning over 250 acres, a vast empire in view of the tiny Barolo and Barbaresco estates that tend to resemble the morsellated Burgundy landscape. In the past, I have found Batasiolo wines to be straightforward and monolithic. Whether it's the quality of the vintage or an obvious effort to raise the quality level, Batasiolo's 1990s all performed exceptionally well.Importer: a Leonardo Lo Cascio selection, Winebow, Inc., Hohokus, NJ.