Reviews

Polished and pure, featuring a beam of cherry preserves backed by blood orange, damson plum and iron notes. Drink now. 6,700 cases made. –JM

Best Buy. Really impressive at this price for its depth of flavor and overall balance. Dry and elegantly constructed, it shows extravagant flavors of blackberries, cherries, sweet currants and sandalwood. A lovely Merlot of great charm and drinkability.

A solid, everyday Cabernet, with extra features of dry elegance and complexity. It’s dry and tannic, with interesting blackberry, currant, sweet oak and tobacco flavors for drinking now.

A grapey chardonnay with the coffee-and-cream scents of oak, this is a smooth and simple white for roast veal.

The aromas of ripe berry, cola, cedar and fresh earth are moderately rich, with a smoky edge, maintaining a delicate balance through the finish. Drink now through 2019. 592 cases made. –JL

Elegant and balanced, with toasted red currant aromas and lively cherry, tomato leaf and spice flavors that finish soft, showing ripe tannins. Drink now through 2017. 1,981 cases made. —T.F.

Here too there is just enough wood to notice on the agreeably layered nose that features notes of apple, pear and a touch of exotic fruit. There is an undercurrent of minerality that adds lift to the delicious, round and supple medium weight flavors that possess good punch and detail on the dry and clean finish that again offers good persistence if only moderate depth.

A deft application of wood sets off notes of green apple, lemon zest, floral and spice hints. There is good punch and intensity to the plump and supple middle weight flavors that possess good persistence if only average complexity on the dry, balanced and easy-to-like finish. This should also drink well right away.

Spicy, with hints of sandalwood and incense shading the cherry and currant flavors. This is balanced and dry, delivering firm, dusty tannins on the finish. Best from 2016 through 2030. 100 cases imported. –BS

The 2009 Barolo is thin and overall streamlined with earthy characteristics of forest floor and cured meat backed by savory tones of tar and licorice. Again, like with the Barbaresco, the lean and simplistic qualities of the wine suggest you should drink it sooner rather than later. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2019. With large case productions capable of penetrating distant and emerging markets, Beni di Batasiolo has appeared as an important ambassador for the Barolo brand. A few years ago, Batasiolo opened the only five-star hotel accommodations in the Langhe called Il Boscareto with luxury rooms and the gourmet La Rei restaurant.