I feel there is too much oak in the 2009 Barolo Riserva Preve. The wine is thickly textured and dense with blackberry preserves and dried cherry, followed by campfire ash, teriyaki spice and barbecue smoke. The primary fruit has faded.

The 2007 Barolo Riserva Preve is an emboldened, oak-driven expression with decisive tones of sticky spice, new leather and tar. The wine reaches exceptionally high levels of aromatic intensity that almost go over the top. Healthy fruit in 2007, plus the generous use of French oak, has crafted a super-sized Barolo that can be enjoyed within the next few years, or set aside. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2023. Stefano Gagliardo likes to note that his father, who didn-t drink alcohol, learned to love wine thanks to his mother who came from a family with a long line of winemakers. What became a common love for wine soon blossomed into a winery with 20 hectares of vines spread over 16 sites including La Morra, Barolo, Monforte d-Alba and Serralunga d-Alba. Importer: Enotec Imports Inc., Denver, CO; tel. (303) 322-3447