Barolo, Bric dël Fiasc, Riserva,

An exciting debut the 2008 is full of the toned muscle and power so beloved of Bric del Fiasc followers whilst offering an unusually open, lifting, floral fragrance. An array of violet-scented, blackberry blueberry and cherry fruit married to notes of sweet spice, liquorice, mineral, tar and stone make for a thoroughly profound, handsome and beautifully-balanced Barolo that will reward decades of cellaring. Paolo Scavino’s iconic Bric del Fiasc vineyard has been in the family since 1921. It was first vinified and bottled separately in 1978, one of Barolo’s earlier examples of a single vineyard cuvee. The 2008 vintage marked its 30th anniversary and to celebrate the Scavinos produced their first ever Riserva from this plot, which they have now only just released. The fruit comes from the oldest part of the vineyard and the wine is aged for two years in a mixture of small barrels and large oak “botti” vats as per the regular bottling but with 3 years extra ageing in bottle. The production has been limited to 2,500 bottles and a mere handful of magnums and double magnums.