2006 Barbera d'Alba Santo Stefano di Perno
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Tasting notes
Deep, bright red-ruby. Aromas of blackberry, violet and crushed herbs. Dense, sweet and penetrating, with a firm acid spine currently keeping the dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors under wraps. There's an intriguing savory, saline quality here but today this is tough going and dominated by its structure. There's plenty of calcaire in this soil.
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Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate
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The 2006 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Santo Stefano di Perno is quite possibly the finest vintage of this wine I have ever tasted. All of the elements come together beautifully. The wine opens up to reveal bright ripe fruit and expressive aromatics, showing superb clarity and detail. The slightly herbal qualities the Santo Stefano typically presents are beautifully balanced in this vintage. The 2006 Barbera Santo Stefano is another wine Mascarello fans will not want to miss. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2016. Proprietor Mauro Mascarello has turned out two very pretty 2005 Barolos, but did not bottle his Villero as he waited until after the rains to pick the fruit and by that time the quality in the vineyard had been compromised. There is also no Ca d’Morissio in 2005, as that juice was blended into the Monprivato. Although Mascarello is best known for his Barolos, his entry-level wines also merit serious consideration. Although Mascarello’s Barberas aren’t as well-priced as they once were, they are capable of delivering tons of class and elegance. Readers who want to learn more about this iconic Barolo estate may want to check out my recent article on www.erobertparker.com. Importers: Doug Polaner, Polaner Selections, Mt. Kisco, NY; tel. (914) 244-0404, The Rare Wine Co., Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484