Rating:
88
Stephen Tanzer - Vinous Media
"From 35-to-40-year-old Ornati vines, planted at about 450 meters on limestone-rich soil) Good full red with a hint of amber. Subdued nose suggests loam and nutty oak, with cherry emerging with aeration. Sweet, lush and fat with fruit; distinctly redder in its fruit character than the regular bottling. This suggests the finesse of a Barolo. A nicely round style, but a bit low-toned on the back half, finishing with some dusty tannins. This aged on its lees in new barriques for 20 months." (11/07)
Product Description:
Wine:
"Elegant Barbera with superb complexity, made from old vines in the Ornati location. Aged carefully in barrel to underline the nobility of this extraordinary fruit. Blackberries, black cherries evolve elegantly and velvet-like on the palate, culminating in complex and licorice like sensation in the finish. Superbly elegant, yet powerful and worth a position in the best cellar." - Importer
Winemaker:
"This well respected producer offers a unique perspective into the grand Nebbiolo grape. Located right at the border between the Castiglion Falletto and Monforte d'Alba appellation of Barolo, the brother and sister team, Marco and Tiziana Parusso, are growing 100% of their own grapes in 18 different parcels between the two subappellations. A young team of very talented vineyard workers carefully educated by Marco harvest superb lots of grapes every year. In 2006 celebrating 20 vintages under the helm of Marco, the Parusso winery stands out by pronouncing its own path. A winemaking process was defined in this winery that is already leading example for many young vintners around the world, many of them in our portfolio."
"Since the 1980's, Armando Parusso's son and daughter, Marco and Tiziana Parusso, have taken an ever increasing role in their family's great Barolo estate. In 1986 Marco, fresh from enology school, vinified his first Barolo and with Tiziana's support, they have not stopped since, with an approach of great enthusiasm and analytical precison, conceiving their barolos with greater elegance and more transparent vineyard characteristics every year. A newly finished winery in the year 2000 allowed Marco to finally age his wines under the conditions he considers optimal. Therefore he was able to make the most of this stunning vintage with a concept of purity, elevating his wines to new levels of complexity." - Importer