2008 Fratelli Alessandria, Barolo, Monvigliero

The 2008 Barolo Monvigliero boasts serious power and richness in this vintage. A heady mélange of dark red cherries, flowers, licorice, incense and smoke emerges from the glass as the Monvigliero captivates all of the senses. Unlike the Gramolere, the Monvigliero is quite youthful today. It needs at least a few years to strut its stuff, but is nevertheless impressive. Layers of fruit continue to build to a huge crescendo of aromas and flavors on the finish.

Good dark red. Dark fruit aromas are lifted by a peachy high note. Fine-grained but tightly wound, with good energy to its sappy cherry, licorice and spice flavors. Finishes seriously tannic and long, showing an excellent combination of suavity and power. More backward than the Gramolere and in need of a few more years of cellaring. I like this.