The 2008 Barolo Ravera seems to be putting on weight in bottle. Dark, pliant and powerful, the 2008 is also going through a period of dormancy, so it is best left alone for at least a few more years.

(bottled two weeks before my visit): Good bright red. Lovely ethereal perfume of exotic fruits, peach, orange, flowers and medicinal herbs, plus a whiff of Barolo Chinato. Silky on entry, then sweet, juicy and perfumed in the middle, with flavors similar to the aromas. Saturates the palate without any impression of weight. The firm, sappy finish features big, dusty, granular tannins that reach the front teeth. Very sexy aromatics here but Nadia emphasizes that the 2007 is "much more typical and richer Barolo. The 2008 shows the pinot side of nebbiolo and should be drunk before the 2007 and 2006."

Full bottle 1,314 g. Quite an intense brick red with a pale rim. Tarry, bricky nose reminds me why, when studying wine, I used to confuse Barolo with northern Rhône, even Hermitage. There is lovely ripe, intense fruit here and the tannins are all but imperceptible at this stage. Complex and layered with real refreshment. Serving temperature of 13 °C no impediment (though it might have been earlier in its development). Very long. (JR)