The nose showed ripe black cherry with sweet herbs and spice, dried leaves, lavender and a slight hint of undergrowth. On the palate, silky textures were offset by spicy tart cherry with saline-minerals, zesty acidity and mounting young tannin. It was incredibly soft, almost flat, which detracted from the experience. The finish was long with saturating tart red berry fruit, lingering acids, spice and a long bitter twang.

Here I found a lifted and pure expression of Barolo that wowed me with its feminine grace. The nose showed mineral-laced cherry and strawberry with a sweet dusting of spice, dried flowers and hints of balsamic. On the palate, I found soft, caressing yet lifted textures with pretty strawberry, inner rose, mineral tones, bitter herbs, and brisk acidity which added mouthwatering freshness. It finished long with fine saturating tannin, zesty acidity, saline-minerals and lingering spice. This is a classic in the making.

The nose was dark, dank and rich with earth-infused black cherry, minerals, crushed stone and hints of savory herbs. On the palate, I found soft, almost diluted tones with hints of crushed raspberry, spice, a bit of diesel and saturating minerality. It finished medium-long with tart, saturating red fruits and an impression of imbalance.

The nose showed depths of red plum and black cherry with sweet soaring floral tones, hints of wild herbs and a pleasant dose of sweet spice. On the palate, I found zesty, soft textures hosting spice-infused inner florals and juicy fresh cherry, as notes of leather and spice added grip. It finished long on sweet cherry with zesty spices and acids lingering long. This was so easy to like already and perfectly balanced for further development.

The nose was slightly restrained with mineral-infused cherry, crushed dried flowers, and stone dust. On the palate, I found ripe black cherry, followed by earth tones and minerals, with mounting fine tannin which dried the fruit and left a structured and earthy impression. It finished long and structured with notes of dark earth, tart black and red fruits.

The nose was layered and remarkably pretty, showing black cherry and plum with hints of licorice, tobacco, dusty earth, moist minerality and hauntingly dark dried floral tones. On the palate, I found soft, pliant textures with dark red berry fruit, inner rose, and dry spice, as balancing brisk acidity and light tannin settled in to complete the experience. The finish was long and dark with saturating, spicy red berry fruits, inner florals and lining hints of fine tannin. This wine is drop-dead gorgeous.

The nose was slightly restrained and opened up only with coax in the glass, showing notes of dried strawberry, crushed roses, dried citrus, savory saline-minerals and dusty exotic florals. On the palate, I found silky textures which coated the senses, yet they were quickly offset by fine tannin and zesty spice with ripe red and blue fruits, as appealing sweet inner-florals developed over time. It finished long and structured with saturating black raspberry fruit and a coating of grippy young tannin.

The nose showed ripe plum, crushed strawberry, dusty spices, sweet minerality and dried floral tones, On the palate, I found silky textures offset by zesty spice and balanced acidity, which added energy and verve, as pretty red berry and inner floral tones coated the senses. The finish was long with staining spicy red fruit, sous bois, and lingering sweet herbal tones.

The nose showed crushed overripe cherry, dried orange peel and sweet, exotic floral tones. On the palate, I found soft textures with light cherry and spice, yet lacking depth and with a zing of zesty acid. The finish was medium-long with a burn of acid and little in the way of fruit.

(morning note) The nose was lifted and feminine, yet it showed masses of bright strawberry, cherry, roses and dusty minerality. With time, it developed layers of balsamic spice, hints of white pepper and animal musk, maintaining wonderful purity. On the palate, I found silky textures with ripe cherry, sweet inner-florals and minerals, as brisk acidity added liviness in contrast to slow-mounting fine tannin. It finished long with harmonious mineral-influenced tannin, yet slightly drying its notions of bright cherry and spicy florals. (95 points)

(evening note) - The nose was very ripe and rich, showing crushed plum, sweet confectionary spices, lavender and dusty florals. On the palate, silky textures gave way to tart black cherry with minerals and an herbal twang. Balanced acidity kept it lively and fresh, as exotic spices saturated the senses. The finish was medium-long with a lasting mix of minerals, spice, and hints of youthful tannin. Having tasted this wine many hours prior, I can’t help but feel that we caught it at an odd stage in its decanting. (90 points)

The nose showed crushed strawberry, with dusty sweet florals, fleshy ripe plum, licorice and floral undergrowth. On the palate, I found silky textures with gorgeous sweet spices, cool-toned ripe cherry and zesty acidity, as inner floral tones and hints of light tannin coated the senses. The finish was medium-long with hints of saturating tannin, inner rose and minerals. In all honestly, I was disappointed when the Cascina Francia was revealed in this blind tasting, as I had hoped for more from this bottle.

The nose showed mineral-infused cherry and strawberry with stone dust and hints of animal musk. On the palate, I found unbelievably silky textures with saturating red fruits, balsamic tones, dark minerality, and saturating spice. The finish was long and firm with saturating spice, saline-minerals and fine tannin. This wine continues to develop in a very positive way, yet is still years away from its early drinking window.