The 2008 Roero Riserva Giovanni Almondo is drop dead-gorgeous. I am not sure where to start or end with this striking, breathtaking red. A gorgeous, well-articulated bouquet melds into expressive dark fruit as the wine opens up in the glass. Smoke, tar, licorice and a host of other brooding aromas and flavors build towards the dramatic, large-scaled finish. This is quite simply one of the finest – if not the finest – wine I have ever tasted from Roero. It is clearly the qualitative equivalent of many a Barolo or Barbaresco. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2023. Once again, Almondo has turned out a fabulous set of wines. Readers who want to explore Roero should start here. Importer: Petit Pois, Moorestown, NJ; tel. (856) 608-9644