1999 Barolo Pajana

Dark ruby. Clerico's 1999 Pajana is simply an outrageous wine. It explodes out of the glass with an aromatic nose and masses of heady, sumptuous dark fruit, prune, plum and licorice sensations that burst onto the palate in an extraordinary expression of Nebbiolo that leaves me speechless. An awesome effort and a benchmark wine for the appellation. Highly recommended.

The 1999 Barolo Pajana, very dark in color, is intensely spicy on the nose, with much aromatic thrust and warmth, while the long, focused, and concentrated palate reveals plenty of extract and depth, abundant vanilla, cedar, and cloves, and plenty of grip on the finish. A wine to wait for, it will drink best from 2006 to 2020. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411

The 1999 Barolo Pajana, very dark in color, is intensely spicy on the nose, with much aromatic thrust and warmth, while the long, focused, and concentrated palate reveals plenty of extract and depth, abundant vanilla, cedar, and cloves, and plenty of grip on the finish. A wine to wait for, it will drink best from 2006 to 2020. Oct 2003, www.robertparker.com