2010 Nebbiolo Il Favot

(from Barolo vines less than 20 years of age; aged for 15 months in new barriques): Moderately deep medium red. Floral red cherry, spicy oak and an ineffable whiff of orange peel on the polite, pure nose. Clean and tightly wound, showing excellent cut to the pretty flavors of crushed red cherry, raspberry and flowers. The wine's tight finish calls for a year or two of patience. I find this far more successful than the 2008 version, which was more dominated by its oak. Conterno noted that increasingly popular young nebbiolo bottlings, especially those aged in stainless steel, are cannibalizing barbera sales in restaurants, both in Italy and in export markets.