Perfumed and suave, this red boasts cherry, strawberry, sandalwood, floral and mint aromas and flavors. This one is all about finesse and harmony, with its precision and balance providing a sense of seamlessness -- even at this youthful stage. The fruit, spice and savory elements linger on the aftertaste. Best from 2025 through 2043. 833 cases made.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barolo Select to Add

Tasted from barrel, the 2018 Barolo Arione still has another year in botte and time in bottle before its commercial release. However, the wine shows a distinct personality that is immediately gentle and open-knit despite its very young age. With fruit from Serralunga d'Alba, there is ethereal softness here, but this characterization is relative considering the ample power and depth always associated with this site. It feels like this 2018 vintage is still warming up and is slowly putting on volume and weight. Its metamorphosis is far from complete. However, what you can read into the wine now is the quality of its fruit and its classic Nebbiolo aromas of wild berry, pressed violet, rust and blood orange.

The Giacomo Conterno 2017 Barolo Arione is my favorite in a mini vertical from this cru site in Serralunga d'Alba. I prefer the 2017 to the classic 2016 and the wine's inaugural vintage, the 2015. What this vintage has is an ample and generous sense of fullness and stature. These results are impressive, and even imposing to an extent. This is a statement wine that proudly submits multiple layers of black fruit, blackcurrant, cast iron, earth, licorice root and cola. The supportive tannins are well played against the wine's rich texture, natural structure and fruit concentration. The power of a warm vintage and the muscle power of Arione overlap in this special bottle and will carry this wine over extended aging.

The Giacomo Conterno 2016 Barolo Arione is a wine that opens gradually to show increased definition and richness. The word "spessore" is "thickness" in English; however, the Italian word denotes a little more grace, making "ampleness" or "plenitude" perhaps a more perfect translation. Those are exactly the right terms to describe this wine and, generally speaking, fruit from the Arione MGA. As Roberto Conterno once said to me, "Francia is elegance and Arione is power." Distinctive notes of blackberry, iron, black earth and tarry smoke lift from the bouquet. The generous fruit is backed by etched and firmly structured tannic contouring.

Distinctively spicy, this red exhibits rose, cherry, strawberry and mineral notes, with hints of soy, tobacco and iron. Tightens up, with firm and dense tannins, remaining long and compact on the finish. Best from 2024 through 2048. 666 cases made.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barolo Select to Add