The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is every bit as spectacular as it has always been. I remember tasting the 2004 with Bruno Giacosa and Dante Scaglione before it was released, and making a note to buy as much of the wine as soon as it hit the market. I have never regretted that decision. Explosive, deep and powerful, the 2004 Asili will reward readers lucky enough to own it for several decades. On this night, it is simply sublime. Not surprisingly, the 2004 is also one of the favorites of the group.

Bruno Giacoisa is an iconic name in Italian and world wine circles, with some of the estates wines going down in history as some of the greatest red wines ever made, by anyone anywhere. One wine that can lay claim to that title is the Bruno Giacosa/Falletto 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Asili that has been much lauded everywhere and that I’m not scoring only 99 points because at Bruno Giacosa they made even better wines in 1971, 1978 and 2001. The “Falletto” in this wine’s name refers to the Giacosa family estate and the wines made with estate-grown grapes (as opposed to the Bruno Giacosa line of wines that can be made with bought grapes from growers with whom the winery has longstanding relationships with).
Luminous, deep red colour with only a hint of garnet at the rim. Very intense aromas and flavours of ripe red cherry, camphor, licorice, strawberry jelly, incense, sandalwood and mint. Nobly austere in the mouth as any self-respecting Asili wine ought to be, this multilayered beauty coats the mouth with utterly silky tannins and finishes long with compelling sweetness of fruit. It never ceases to amaze me how this beautiful 2004 Barbaresco, that I have had at least two dozen times since its release, manages to stay so light on its feet while boasting Barolo-like levels of power. Best of all, this is still remarkably youthful and has at least another twenty years of life ahead of it, easy, and probably more. Very, very well done. Drinking window: 2024-2050.
Ian D'Agata Jan 2024 - www.terroirsense.com

The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is even more compelling than the Rabaja. It floats on the palate with an ethereal core of sweet fruit that calls to mind a profound Musigny, but with the unmistakable structure of Nebbiolo. The perfumed purity of the fruit carries all the way through to the deeply satisfying, resonating finish. Made in a soft, seductive style, this remarkable wine is decidedly more approachable and easy to appreciate today than the Rabaja. Giacosa fans will have a great time discussing the merits of the Rabaja and the Asili in 2004, but to me they are virtually equally moving; Asili for its feminine gracefulness and Rabaja for its size and power. The Asili should prove more accessible at an earlier age. Bruno Giacosa says his 2004 Asili Riserva will turn out to be just like his 2000 Asili Riserva, the wine he still thinks is the best he’s ever made. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.

Aromas of strawberry and candle wax develop to cherry and light incense. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and lots of fruit. Focused and very well done, but really tight at the moment. Very structured. Needs time. This is the red label, to be released in spring 2009. Best after 2014. 1,170 cases made. –JS