Boise Coop Wine Shop

Barolo New Arrivals

• July 20, 2011

While some wine writers are claiming that 2006 is the greatest Brunello vintage in history, we are also excited by the 2007s from Piedmont. They have the style and balance of the wonderful 2001s. We have more wines on the way but these just arrived. Quantities are limited as always.

2007 Barolo

Conterno Fantino Barolo Sori Ginestra $75 The 2007 Barolo Sori Ginestra comes across as less aromatically intriguing and more fruit-driven than is typically the case. The wine’s full-bodied, powerful personality is on full display, and it  is a hugely enjoyable Barolo that impresses for its textural richness and full-throttle personality. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027. A. Galloni 94 points

Elio Altare Barolo $79 The 2007 Barolo is simply breathtaking. A bouquet that recalls Pinot Noir melds into pure Nebbiolo fruit as this captivating, sensual Barolo reveals off its pedigree. This shows remarkable detail, nuance and sheer clarity, with gorgeous depth and a radiant, totally engaging personality. Most of the attention here is generally focused on the single-vineyard wines, but readers should not look past the straight Barolo, a wine that has built an extraordinary track record for developing beautifully in bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2027. A. Galloni 94 pts

Luigi Einaudi Barolo Costa Grimaldi $65 The 2007 Barolo Costa Grimaldi is fabulously rich, dense and well-balanced in this vintage. The Costa Grimaldi is made from a parcel of the Via Nuova vineyard in Barolo at 350 meters above sea level with a sheltered south-east exposure that provides respite in warmer years. This shows tons of vintage character in its racy, elegant fruit and silky tannins, along with superb depth and intensity, all of which have been achieved in a fairly restrained style. This is a fabulous effort . Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. A. Galloni 94 pts

Marcarini Barolo Brunate $52 The estate’s 2007 Barolo Brunate sweeps across the palate with endless layers of expansive fruit. The Brunate shows fabulous intensity and depth in an uncharacteristically rich, opulent style for Marcarini. Despite the wine’s richness there is plenty of Brunate character, particularly on the finish, where menthol, pine, resin, spices and a host of other balsamic notes speak with great eloquence. Marcarini harvested Brunate on September 24 and 25. The wine saw 15 days of fermentation, followed by another 42 days of contact with the skins. The wine then spent two years in large, neutral casks prior to being racked into steel to rest before being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. A. Galloni 94 points

2006 Brunello

2006 Conti Costtanti Brunello $59 The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is a dazzling wine. The aromatics alone are haunting. Sweet red cherries, rosemary, sage, tobacco and cedar are woven into a fabric of nearly indescribable elegance. Costanti’s straight Brunello can sometimes lack a little depth in its fruit, but not in 2006. This totally complete, harmonious Brunello is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. It is a stunner. As delicious as the wine is now, it really needs at least a handful of years for the firm tannins to start melting away. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031.  A Galloni 95+ points

2006 Mate Brunello $55 An opulent, fruit-driven style, yet fresh, with cherry, raspberry and blackberry up front and tar and licorice lurking behind. The richness is mouthcoating, and there are dense tannins hanging out on the finish. This has immediate appeal, yet should age well too. Best from 2014 through 2027. 1,200 cases made. –BS  Wine Spectator 95 pts