2006 Barolo Riserva Rüncot, Elio Grasso, Piedmont
This vineyard is just in from of the Grasso house and seems to combine the Casa Maté opulence and power with the refinement of Chiniera. Intially closed on the nose, which is not a huge surprise considering this has just been bottled after 3.5 years in French oak! With aeration come notes of orange peel, rose petal and wild strawberry, with no particular sign of all that new oak. This is an amazing wine with huge concentration and a tautness of structure which will release its complexities with time.