This set of wines from Giacosa Fratelli makes a strong showing straight out of the gate. The 2016 Barolo is a tight, compact and elegant wine that reveals wild berry fruit, rose hip, licorice and more sweet, round fruit on the close. There are hints of ripeness here that you pick up on especially, thanks to those darker fruit nuances. These conspire to give the wine an open and accessible disposition to enjoy over the next 10 years or more.

Based in Neive (Barbaresco), Maurizio Giacosa is getting ready to build an addition to the winery with more space for bottling and logistics. The Giacosa Fratelli estate recently leased a 3,000-square meter parcel in the Pernanno cru (Castiglione Falletto), and next fall we can expect the release of a Barolo Riserva. That new wine will be the 2012 Barolo Riserva Scarrone Vigna Mandorlo. I had the opportunity to write a preview review of the wine, but tragically, my sample was corked. I've requested a second sample to publish in an upcoming report.