Vietti Vietti Barolo Lazzarito 2012

The 2012 'Lazzarito' is another drop-dead gorgeous Barolo from Luca Currado in this vintage. Lazzarito vineyard is one of the most famous crus of Serralunga. The 2012 was aged for 7 months in French oak barrels and 25 in Slovenian oak casks. As it begins to open it releases beautiful aromas of ripe strawberries and cherries woven together with dried floral, smoke, mint and crushed stones all coming together and soaring from the glass. This demonstrates wonderful depth with a gorgeous velvety texture and remarkable overall balance and finesse with a beautifully polished frame. It continues to impress with its wonderful precision and focus, as everything comes together and bursts on to the ultra-long finish. Today, the Lazzarito already shows incredible early appeal, and seems to be to most accessible of all the cru's from Vietti, but its still safe to say it will ultimately be most compelling as it evolves over the next decade and beyond. (Best 2019-2034)

The 2012 Barolo Lazzarito impresses for its precision and class, two qualities that aren't easy to find in wines from this Serralunga site. Iron, smoke and white pepper lift from the glass in a vertical, structured Barolo endowed with real pedigree. A rush of pomegranate, red cherry jam, wild flowers and blood orange meld into the huge, bright finish. In 2012, the Lazzarito reconciles power and finesse like few vintages in the past. For the last few years, the Lazzarito has been knocking on the door of the big boys in this lineup, the Rocche and Ravera

Rich, with a chewy texture and flavors of cherry, licorice, menthol, wild herbs and tar. Fresh, powerful and balanced, this should be terrific in due time. Best from 2020 through 2036. 500 cases made.

A full-bodied red with chocolate, mineral, and plum character. Firm and silky. Medium finish. Tight and shy at the moment. Give it a year to two to open

Underbrush, sunbaked soil, toast, and espresso aromas come together in the glass. The structured, tightly wound palate shows star anise, dried black cherry and a note of powdered sage with bracing tannins that grip the finish.