Reviews

pretty and attractively restrained, even cool nose fuses together notes of plum, violets, blue pinot fruit and red currant aromas. The round and very generous flavors retain a reasonably good sense of detail and fine mid-palate concentration, all wrapped in a finish that offers solid if not perfect balance as well as good depth and length. There is a hint of acid tang but I suspect that this will become less obvious with a year or two of bottle age.

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.

Well-marked by smoky, spicy oak, this is rich and ripe, with black cherry and blackberry flavors. The tannins are on the assertive, grainy side, leaving an astringent finish. Best from 2015 through 2027. 528 cases made. –BS

Leaning toward the herb and dill side of Cabernet, this is lean and rim, with crushed rock, currant, cedar and tobacco leaf elements. The leanest of the new Raymond District Cabernets.

Marked by deep, delicious flavors of chocolate, blueberries and blackberries, this is a lovely Cabernet to drink now. The tannins are firm, the finish long and spicy. Shows real Napa class.

So rich and soft with chocolate, raspberry and vanilla flavors, this wine is better sipped by itself than with food. The alcohol level is enormously high, giving this Cabernet the headiness of a Port.

A blast of ripe cherries, chocolate, brown sugar, roasted coconut and almond flavors. Merlot hardly gets richer than this.

Remember when all Châteauneufs were priced like this? Now this is entry-level pricing, yet the wine is very good, delivering a complex, harmonious blend of leather, earth, spice and plum notes. It’s soft enough to drink now and over the next few years.

This red evokes black cherry, blackberry and violet aromas and flavors. There's a line of tannins for support, covered by the ample flesh. Drink now through 2020.

A ripe, opulent style, packed with cherry, spice and smoke. Moderately long, with wood spice lingering on the finish. Drink now through 2018.