2006 La Spinetta Barolo Campe, Piedmont

The 2006 Barolo Campè is one of the most elegant wines I have ever tasted from La Spinetta. A deep, translucent red, the Campe' opens with a captivating bouquet of roses, spices, flowers and cherries, all of which resonate on the palate. The wine turns muscular in the glass, with powerful tannins that frame the expressive, generous fruit. There is plenty of richness and concentration, yet without the over-ripeness and excessive oakiness of past vintages. Smoke, tar and herbs are just some of the nuances that come to life as the dense fruit provides a wonderful foil to the tannins on the finish. This, too, is a terrific effort from La Spinetta. The 2006 Campè was fermented in rotary tanks for 7-8 days and underwent malolactic fermentation in new French oak, where the wine was aged for 24 months prior to being bottled. 93 points. Antonio Galloni February 2010