2015 Barolo Vigna Rionda Ester Canale
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Tasting notes
The Ester Canale Rosso 2015 Barolo Vignarionda is softened by aged aromas of dried fruit, licorice, tar, camphor ash and toasted aniseed. The warm 2015 vintage contributes to those sensation of softness and silkiness that ride forward to the finish. You can taste some of the extra concentration or fruit weight that is associated with this sunny vintage. The 2015 rivals the 2016 (that I tasted at the same time), but there is more density here. I'm not sure why the wine holds such an ambitious price tag, but it must have to do with availability.
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2015 Barolo Vigna Rionda is a wine of real power and intensity. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2015 needs time for the sensuality and pedigree of Rionda to emerge. Today, the 2015 is a bit bombastic, although it offers tons of allure. Hints of tobacco, leather, dark cherry, licorice, menthol, spice and dried flowers build as the 2015 shows off everything its got. I can't wait to taste the 2015 with a bit more bottle age.
Serralunga d’Alba. Will be bottled in January and released in May 2019. Amazing purity of fruit that is lifted and with minerally notes, too. Dark and brooding. Transparent palate with energetic acidity that melts into the pure cherry fruit. Succulent and with fine-grained tannins that push up the whole on the finish. Very long, focused and yet generous with nervy acidity on the finish. Hedonistic and stylish. Complex, firm tannins that are at the same time extremely refined. (WS)