2007 Barolo Cicala

Saturated red-ruby color. Deeper, warmer aromas than the Colonnello, showing strong minerality but a bit lower-toned nonetheless. Very rich and large-scaled wine with extravagant sweetness to its very ripe flavors of dark berries, bitter chocolate, leather and smoke. This doesn't have the acidity of the 2008 Cicala but the tannins are more harmonious today. Finishes very rich and very long, with big but nicely buffered tannins. (ST)

This is stunning, with licorice, flowers and dark fruits all over. Full and super silky and sexy. I am in love with this wine already. It will age for decades, but it is so in harmony and beautiful now. Gorgeous.

The 2007 Barolo Cicala is every bit as compelling as the Colonello, although it is completely different in its personality. Here the poor soils yield a massively tannic Barolo infused with minerals, violets, menthol, tar and new leather. While the Colonello is a more overt, fruit-driven Barolo, the Cicala plays off its structural components to a far greater degree. The wine’s inner perfume and minerality dazzle from start to finish. This is another magnificent Barolo from Aldo Conterno. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032. This is a gorgeous set of wines from Aldo Conterno. The estate’s continued pursuit of low yields in the vineyard has paid off handsomely over the last few years. The 2007 Baroli spent 29 months in oak and were bottled in September 2010. Unfortunately 2007 was a difficult vintage at Aldo Conterno. There will be no 2007 Romirasco or Granbussia because of damage to the fruit caused by hail. Importer: Massanois Imports, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 470-6769