2008 Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera

(bottled two weeks before my visit): Good bright red. Lovely ethereal perfume of exotic fruits, peach, orange, flowers and medicinal herbs, plus a whiff of Barolo Chinato. Silky on entry, then sweet, juicy and perfumed in the middle, with flavors similar to the aromas. Saturates the palate without any impression of weight. The firm, sappy finish features big, dusty, granular tannins that reach the front teeth. Very sexy aromatics here but Nadia emphasizes that the 2007 is |much more typical and richer Barolo. The 2008 shows the pinot side of nebbiolo and should be drunk before the 2007 and 2006.|

Author: Stephen Tanzer

Issue: November/December 2011