1998 Barbera d'Alba Pozzo dell'Annunziata Riserva
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The 1998 Barbera d'Alba Riserva Vigneto Pozzo dell'Annunziata (magnum) comes across as relatively small-scaled. There is good depth to the fruit, but not the compelling richness, detail and vibrancy that defines the very best vintages. This is one bottle that is not showing particularly well today, and although it is still full of life, at 12 years of age I have to wonder if the wine will ever find its inner sense of harmony.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The dense opaque purple-colored 1998 Barbera d'Alba Riserva Pozzo dell'Annunziata resembles vintage port in its color, texture, and flavor saturation. Opulent, with extreme richness, this full-bodied, super intense, compelling, flamboyant Barbera (less than 1400 magnums produced) possesses freshness and exoticism. It boasts unctuous black cherry, chocolate, espresso, licorice, and strawberry liqueur aromas as well as flavors, immense body, major levels of glycerin, and gorgeously integrated sweet new oak (from 100% malolactic in new wood). While it is impossible to predict how such wines will age, given its size and strength, it will certainly drink well for a decade. I recommend consuming it at a young age to take advantage of its exuberance. A Leonardo Locascio Selection, Winebow, Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620.