Very young and closed, slightly lactic, silky, cool and energetic, acidity is perfectly integrated but will need a few years to soften, amazing purity, bright red cherry fruit, impressive length.

Not an easy year in Piemonte. A much lighter style than the Cogno P-P, elegant and well-balanced, hint of liquorice, bright red fruit, charming, good length.

Magnum. Impressive depth and concentration, velvety, excellent typicity, rich and savoury, wonderfully ripe velvety tannins, sweet black cherry fruit, has absorbed the 14 months on new oak beuatifully, modern and sensual, excellent length.

Fully mature appearance; on the nose very tertiary, earthy, with notes of lovage and a whiff of gunpowder, good depth and freshness, vestiges of fruit; on the palate well-balanced, gentle but with lovely Barbera-acidity, good weight; very good length.

Nebbiolo (60%), Vespolina (25%) and Croatina (15%). Floral, elegant, charming, fragrant, the Vespolina and Croatina add a nice complexity and fruit, refreshing acidity, good length. Approachable, attractive.

Classic Nebbiolo profile, lifted nose, tannins have been managed very well, slightly vegetal but with a lovely ripeness in the fruit, elegant and expressive, good to very good length.

Quite vegetal, mature, slender, relatively tannic, lacks a certain charm and fragrance, good length, slightly peppery finish.

More concentrated than the previous three, hint of cold tea, good weight, nice tertiary development, showing very well.

Magnum. Light, quite evolved, very tertiary, hint of coffee, good tannic structure and length, on the dry side, an old-fashioned style, for traditionalists.

80% new barrique. Wonderful nose, deep and fragrant, perfectly integrated barrique adds warmth and richness, modern style, excellent length, fully mature, a wonderful balancing act between modernity and tradition.

Very ripe fruit, almost a bit jammy (insofar as Nebbiolo is capable of that), touches of beefstock and aniseed, clearly marked by its warm vintage but the balance is good even though the tannins scream out for steak.

Tertiary, perfumed, relatively light and traditional style but with considerable charm and length, tannic of course, excellent length.

Very lively and fresh for age, very impressively structured, excellent acidity and tannins, roses, energetic, roses, tar in the background, transparent, smoky.

Oxidised. Dead.

Vino da meditazione, subtle, lovely warmth, 1997-gentilezza, cherries, ripe tannins, develops a hint of stables, silky, wonderful finish with excellent length.

Chef d'oeuvre! A thing of beauty, subtle, layered, balanced, smoky, lots of tannins but perfectly balanced, full of potential, the most Burgundian of all the Nebbiolos on tasting today.

The Nascetta grape is related to the Vermentino; aged for 6 months on oak on the fine lees. Very floral, not unlike a Muscat from Alsace, slightly metallic, with some back-end heat.

Aged for 24 months in large oak vats. Fragrant, truffle, undergrowth, good fruit, nice balance of intensity and elegance, ripe tannins.

Double magnum. Aged for 48 months in large oak vats. Wonderful, classical Barolo, spices, wood, roses, nice weight of fruit and a lovely balance, elegant and intense, elegant and charming, drinking beautifully, at peak but no hurry.

Nebbiolo Amarone-style. Wonderful additional balsamic richness from the appassimento but without losing the characteristic tannic austerity of the Nebbiolo grape, good weight and velvety extraction, very good length.

Bottled 12 January 2012 after seven years on large oak vats. Elegant, amazing finesse in the wood, ripe fruit, stylish, silky, intense, refined, wonderfully together and harmonious, drinking beautifully. A stunning wine.