2007 Italian Wine

A dark, masculine, brooding Brunello with savory aromas of leather and cured meat behind ripe fruit and blackberry. It's tight and clean with a streamlined mouthfeel that gives evidence to the wine's firm tannic structure. Executed in a traditional style and shows possibility for long cellar aging.

The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is rich, deep and resonant. It shows fabulous depth and richness, with seemingly endless layers of fruit that caress the palate. Dark red cherries, savory herbs, tobacco and licorice linger on the textured, creamy finish. This is another terrific effort from Argiano. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2027.

"The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino bursts from the glass with a textured fabric of dark red berries, licorice, spices, tobacco and leather. Layers of fruit continue to build as the wine blossoms in every direction. Flowers, spices and leather reappear on the silky finish. The Brunello was aged in casks and smaller French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. "

The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is a gorgeous wine that brings together the richness of the vintage and the house's continuing move to a more traditional style. Sweet red berries, flowers, mint, spices and anise are woven together beautifully in this large-scaled, generous wine. The wine gains volume and depth in the glass as the flavors built to a huge crescendo. The 2007 was aged exclusively in cask. This is a great showing from Fuligni. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027.

The 2007 Barolo is inviting, sweet and open, yet has plenty of underlying tannins to provide support. It shows terrific balance in a style that reconciles the traditionalist leanings of this bottling with the ripe quality of the year. Sweet hints of tobacco, spices, leather and herbs add complexity on the textured yet grippy finish. Pio Cesare's straight Barolo doesn't seem to get the attention or spotlight it deserves, but it has truly been one of Piedmont's under the radar jewels for some time. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2022.

The 2007 Gattinara bursts from the glass with sweet red cherries, tobacco, incense and grilled herbs. There is an immediacy to the 2007 that is quite appealing. At the same time, the firm Nebbiolo tannins are present and serve to balance the wine's more overt leanings. I very much like the way the 2007 continues to open up in the glass. Overall this looks to be a tasty, early-drinking Gattinara from Travaglini. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017.