Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco 2012

This is my kind of Barolo. Not only is showing hints of bottle development (wet autumnal leaf, brown spice, slight bricking to the colour) but it is red-fruited and only medium-bodied. It sits at the elegant end of Barolo, rather than being an absolute blockbuster of a wine (which I must say, I do also have time for). Perhaps it is the pinch of age that helps here, but the fruit seems to have a real ‘pop’ to it. Flavours are elevated, lively and are really singing at 8 years of age. Pomegranate, dried strawberry, touches of rhubarb, orange zest, turned earth and Aperol are all characters that exist on the palate. Then the tannins kick in in a fine, chalky and integrated manner. Great Barolo. 4 dozen only. – Ches Cook, FWC.