2011 Damilano "Brunate" Barolo

The 2011 Barolo Brunate is layered and thick with that high caliber of red fruit intensity you should expect from this celebrated single vineyard. Brunate is known for wines that are powerful and well structured. You get both those qualities here. But you also get enduring aromas of red fruit, blue flower, spice, anise seed and toasted nut that give the wine a sense of gravitas and profound inner dignity. This is a faithful expression of place and vintage. I thought that many of Damilano's top wines performed better in the challenging 2011 vintage than they did in the classic 2010 vintage. I found this to be especially true for both the Barolo Cannubi and the Brunate. Those sites seemed thinner and less expansive in 2010. But in 2011, the wines express themselves with extra intensity, beauty and richness. I am impressed with the work executed by Damilano in this vintage. (ML)