Castelletto 2008

The last two wines in this first seminar were a foray into a land of great reds: Langhe. This first Barolo is from the area of Monforte d’Alba and has an additional geographic indication of Castelletto. It is a ‘modern’ version of this great Piedmont wine given that the winery chose to age it in French oak barrels. The touch of new wood is evident in the spiciness and ‘toasted’ scents in the bouquet, but it is just a hint and is perfectly integrated with the aromas of wild berries, cinchona and licorice. The mouthfeel reveals the wine’s youth with tannins that are still quite bold but sufficiently blended in and accompanied by a soft and tasty body and a lovely flavor progression. The finish has a nice note of raspberry. This Barolo is already extremely approachable but if you can wait it will be even more satisfying.