Barolo Pira Riserva 1999
Region: Barolo
Winery: Pira, Luigi
Variety: Nebbiolo

This exceptional red greets the taster with aromas of red fruit and flowers, along with a kick of pine tar. On the palate, flavors of tart red cherry and sweet blackberry mingle with floral aromatics. Softly elegant tannins are carried along by a zaftig body, and elide into conclusory notes of black pepper. The spicy finish lingers on the tongue, like a lover's good-night kiss.

Posted by StillTannic on December 26th, 2007 at 6:19pm | report comment

Barolo Pira Riserva 1999
Region: Barolo
Winery: Pira, Luigi
Variety: Nebbiolo

Four stars for a red exceptional in flavor, complexity, and the presence of full tannins that have matured into an elegant softness. I have only been lucky enough to taste a few wines of this caliber in my life. It easily makes my top three. As much as I enjoy tasting reds, there are very few that I would choose to drink more than one glass of, at a time. This is one of them, and it's not because the wine is a simple "sipper", in the vein of Lambrusco. Pleasant, refined and flavorful, this is a wine that could turn the casual drinker into a grapehead. Yum.

Posted by StillTannic on December 26th, 2007 at 6:23pm | report comment