The 2003 Barolo Vigneto Arborina is remarkably gracious and medium in body considering the scorching hot year. Sweet red cherries, flowers and spices are pushed forward in a super-expressive Barolo that is an absolute delight to taste today. The 2003 is starting to show some signs of advancement, so it is best enjoyed over the next handful of years.

Medium red. Superripe aromas of raspberry liqueur and brown spices; shows a distinctly candied aspect. Supple, broad and sweet; not as complex or fine-grained as the '04 version but this shows plenty of personality and an enticing flavor of red fruit liqueur. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins. Very successful for the vintage.

Minerals on the nose – tasting this feels like sucking on a stone.  Then relatively sweet fruit that just about covers the dry tannins. Though these wines struggle to make the fruit sound above the tannin. Very dry finish. Wait and wait! (JR)