Luciano Sandrone Barolo Cannubi Boschis 2006 (Piedmont, Italy)
14.4%, Cork, $250
Source: Instore tasting (I went back for seconds)

Ahh Barolo (and Barbaresco for that matter), I love thee. I can’t afford to love thee, but I do anyway. It also doesn’t help that plenty of others love thee, which means that the prices are almost universally high. Often too high for that matter. Still, you can’t gripe when the wines are as good as this.

It’s a modern – yet not overly modern – style of Barolo this one, with Luciano using 500 litre tonneaux (approx 30% new here). This particular wine is drawn off the Cannubi cru which is one of the more celebrated spots in Barolo (hence the price).

Speaking of oak, it certainly plays a part in this Barolo. It’s sexy oak sure, but that chocolatey richness is evident on the nose and gives an edge to the tannins. Beyond the oak plumpness though that Nebbiolo fragrance is hard to hide, the meaty richness and mid weight fruit all sitting in a very linear, tight and firm frameset, all looking rather classic and unforced, with proper length and sandy tannins. Wonderful tannins actually, long and powerful without being intrusive.

Whilst this is so young – and looks still very tight – I’d happily drink this now (with comte) if someone would buy me a bottle… (Christmas is coming right?). 18.4/94