2018 La Spinetta, Barolo, Campe

La Spinetta's 2018 Barolo Campè possesses uncommon depth for the year. There's terrific breadth in the dark red cherry/plum fruit. New leather, spice, tobacco, menthol, licorice and orange peel notes. Like all wines in 2018, the Campè is on the lighter side. Even so, proprietor Giorgio Rivetti and longtime winemaker Stefano Mazzetta clearly got the best out of the vintage.

Boasting an orange lion on the label meant to symbolize "Barolo, the king on wines," the La Spinetta 2018 Barolo Campè Vürsù is bold, elegant and firm. In a vintage that often delivers understated wines, this expression feels especially intense, ripe and thickly layered. Dark fruit, plum, earth and spice rose from the bouquet. The tannins stand out in the 2018.

Grinzane Cavour. From the Garetti cru. Concentrated mid ruby. Exotic cassis and raspberry fruit with hints of passion fruit jumping out of the glass. Cherry and raspberry palate layered with sandy tannins turning chewy on the perfumed fruit finish. Exotic and stands out from the rest. Ready now. (WS)