The 2001 Barolo Cascina Francia has entered a period of extreme stubbornness, which has been my experience the several times I have tasted the wine recently. The sweet, candied notes that were once present in the bouquet have developed into a much more classic mélange of roses, tar, licorice and red berries. The 2001 boasts tremendous structure, while some of the overt raciness that was present when the wine was young has dissipated. One of the bottles I tasted, from my cellar, only began to show some expressiveness after it had been opened for two days! The 2001 Cascina Francia is neither young nor mature, rather it is in an adolescent stage where the best option is to leave the bottles alone for at least a few more years. On a side note, a recent bottle of the 1997 was breathtaking.

The 2001 Barolo Cascina Francia has entered a period of extreme stubbornness, which has been my experience the several times I have tasted the wine recently. The sweet, candied notes that were once present in the bouquet have developed into a much more classic melange of roses, tar, licorice and red berries. The 2001 boasts tremendous structure, while some of the overt raciness that was present when the wine was young has dissipated. One of the bottles I tasted, from my cellar, only began to show some expressiveness after it had been opened for two days! The 2001 Cascina Francia is neither young nor mature, rather it is in an adolescent stage where the best option is to leave the bottles alone for at least a few more years. On a side note, a recent bottle of the 1997 was breathtaking. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2031. (Antonio Galloni)