Vietti Barbera d'Alba "Scarrone Vigna Vecchia" 2004

Purple/red.

Oak spice, clay/earth - deep and plush. Black fruit and something balsamic underneath. Sumptuous. Reminds a bit of a great Pin bottling from La Spinetta.

Round and mouth-filling, acidity fairly strong, but very much in the background. Interesting textural duality in the mouth that is blatantly obvious. Where else do you get this kind of purity - aroma/texture/flavor?

The Italians are ripping it up (probably have been for a decade, but I'm a bit slow). Opened yesterday.

Day 4 - Even shows a hint of banana on the nose now. Balsamic action still there, as is everything else. Very good, but not quite as thrilling as I originally thought.


$75