The nose was earthy and mature, showing animal musk and minerals up front, followed by rich dark red fruits, and dark brown spices. On the palate, I found a silky expression with dark swirling textural fruits, minerals, savory spice and inner earth tones. The finish was medium-long lingering on earth and spice yet energized by brisk acids with notes of dried cherry, and menthol. This is such a treat and perfectly matured.

The nose was dark with moist soil tones and minerals up front, as sweet herbs developed with a mix of bright cherry and dried florals. On the palate, I was greeted to silky textures as a powerful mix of black cherry, minerals and grippy tannin washed across the senses. Its fruit was polished and dark yet still youthfully firm across the long saturating and structured finish. The ‘96 requires at least another five to ten years to come around.

The nose was remarkably pretty, showing a mix of strawberry and dried florals which gave way to a dusting of exotic spices and dark minerality. On the palate, I found a lifted and silky expression with tremendous energy as pure red berry fruits and spice washed across the senses, before fine tannin began to settle in and firm up the experience. The finish was long, tannic, but also lively due to remnants of brisk acidity with hints of dried strawberry lingering.

The ‘98 Paje came across as being on the decline, but also unevenly mature with drying fruit and tannin that hasn’t fully resolved. The bouquet showed dried cherry and dusty spices with soil and minerals tones. On the palate, I found soft textures which gave way to chewy tart cherry and strawberry fruit. The finish was long and dark with brisk acids, adding some needed life to its dried cherry and gruff tannin.

Here I found a dark and rich display with a mix of black cherry, crushed stone minerality and hints of animal muskiness. On the palate, silky, soft textures gave way to mineral-infused black cherry with a balanced mix of zesty acids, youthful tannin and minerals. The finish was long, as its tannins began to settle in, firming up the experience and promising many years of development. Admittedly, I wanted more depth from the 2000 Crichet Paje, yet the wine delivered in spite of the vintage.

(Tasted over the course of two days) Upon opening the nose was at first feminine and lifted, showing dusty spices and dried floral tones. Yet, as the ‘07 Crichet Paje sat in a glass, it opened to reveal depths of cranberry, sour cherry and strawberry, followed by fresh rose, stone dust, and a hint of cedar. On the palate, I found silky textures offset by brisk acidity in a lifted and refined style as pure red berry fruits mixed with inner florals and spice to create a remarkably pretty display. Fine tannin mounted and made it itself known throughout the finish as dried cranberry, minerals, cedar and inner floral tones lingered.

On the evening of the tasting, the wine seemed almost weedy, with restrained cherry and strawberry fruits, crushed stone and roses. On the palate, it displayed incredibly light and feminine textures with pure strawberry, green stems and zesty acidity. Firm tannin coated the senses throughout the finish as hints of dried strawberry lingered long.

On day two, the Crichet Paje changed once again. This time the nose was more exotic and floral, as the weedy character from the night before seemed to gain sweetness and spice, making it much more attractive, as well as adding a darker and richer personality; as strawberry changed to cherry laced with roses and hints of mineral undergrowth. On the palate, I found textures of pure silk, with zesty acidity and sour cherry fruit which added energy and thrust. The finish was long displaying fine tannin which saturating the senses, as dried red fruits, minerals and inner rose tones lingered.

The ’95 showed a beautifully mature bouquet with dried flowers, stone dust and minerals up front, followed by crushed black cherry. On the palate, I found soft textures with fleshy black cherry made even juicier by vibrant acids as the expression evolved to show inner floral tones. It was shorter than I hoped on the finish, yet thoroughly enjoyable all the same as lingering hints of grippy tannin balanced against dried cherry and mineral tones. This was perfectly matured and there’s no need to wait, but in the same token I don’t believe we need to worry about it declining anytime soon either.

Here I found a darker, wood-influenced expression of Barolo with haunting floral tones, balsamic spices, dark chocolate, wood tones and sweetly spiced tobacco. On the palate, silky textures gave way to dried cherry earth, minerals and grippy tannins. The finish was long and dry as balsamic-infused dried cherries were clenched by grippy tannins. This stood out like a sore thumb against the lineup, lacking balance and being heavily affected by wood-influences.

The nose showed dried crushed blackberries, with rich almond tones, minerals and haunting florals. On the palate, I found silky textures, yet lifted on a medium-bodied frame, as notes of dried cherry and bitter savory herbs came forward. Lacking the depth of the best vintages, yet still quite enjoyable today, the ’04 Pira finished medium-long with hints of fine tannin, dried cherries and soil tones.

The ’12 Pira lived up to expectations as it stands as one of the highest scoring wines of the vintage. Here I found gorgeous exotic florals with sweet and savory spices, cedar, hints of animal musk and unbelievably pure notes of strawberry and cherry. On the palate, soft textures were gifted tremendous energy through a beam of fresh acidity, as notes of ripe cherry, black tea and minerals washed across the senses. The finish was long, lingering on inner floral tones and mounting fine tannin.

The nose showed masses of ripe black cherry, fig and plum with sweet balsamic spices, dried roses and crushed stone. On the palate, soft, chewy textures were offset by zesty acidity as dried cherry and spices developed on the senses yet didn’t last as long as I’d hoped. The finish was medium-long showing hints of dark fruit and minerals.

The nose was dark and mineral-inflected as moist soil tones gave way to blacker fruits, savory herbs, undergrowth and marine-influenced minerality. On the palate, I found soft and feminine textures with pure red fruits and lifting inner floral tones. The finish was medium-long with saturating fine tannin, dried strawberry, and savory minerals.

The 2005 Vigna Rionda was the perfect closer to our Roagna tasting, as it’s already in a beautiful place with many years of great drinking ahead for it. Here I found a gorgeous feminine expression with pretty dusty cherry tones, dried florals, minerals, crushed stone and hints of savory herbs. On the palate, soft, silky textures gave way to pure cherry and strawberry with crystalline minerality, balancing acids and inner rosy floral tones. The finish was long, and a bit dry, yet totally acceptable as hints of fine tannin, dried red fruits and minerals lingered.