Barolo Bric del Fiasc, Paolo Scavino 1990

The 1990 vintage may have given Scavino a little more to work with as his 1990 Barolo Bric del Fiasc (3-liter) is utterly profound. Rich, dark and sensual, the wine flows onto the palate with marvelous concentration and depth. Layers of menthol, spices, sweet roses and dark fruit swirl around in the glass as this magnificent, regal Barolo struts its stuff. A veritable fountain of youth, this towering Barolo promises to drink spectacularly well for anoter two decades. From a standard bottle the 1990 is approachable, but readers lucky enough to own large formats will want to find a way to wait a few more years.

The 1990 Barolo Bric del Fiasc boasts the most saturated color of this impressive trio (the 1990 Barolo and the 1990 Barolo Cannubi). The bouquet suggests a flattering, up-front style of wine in its complex nose of Asian spices, smoky new oak, black cherries, and herbs. This wine possesses great density along with considerable structure and plenty of tannin. The formidable finish offers copious quantities of jammy fruit, glycerin, and heady alcohol. Drink this blockbuster Barolo between 1997 and 2010.