Medium yellow, some remaining mousse. A hint of brioche and orchard fruit. Medium bodied, creamy feel. Very fresh pear and orange, excellent acidity, and a fine stone/earth finish.

Full ruby. Prominent piney wood n the nose. Medium body with a very supple feel. Lovely concentrated fruit and spice, but a bit simple compared to the other two ‘96s. Astringent wood on the finish.

Lighter hue than the other two 1996 wines. Nose of aromatic pine, spice, and plummy fruit. Marvelous mix of tar, ripe fruit, great acidity, and some lingering tannin. Uplifting citrus peel twist. Completely elegant, long, and fine. My favorite wine of the 1996 flight.

Deep ruby without fading. A touch of alcohol and fennel aromas, the former of which calmed down. Big and sappy for Nebbiolo, somber with layers of dark fruit, terrific acidity, and ripe, chocolatey tannins. At once the wine was accessible yet full of promise due to its massive underlying tannins. Impressive, powerful wine. In its eternal nature and its taking ages to unwind, it reminded me of the 1990 La Chapelle that I drank recently.

Lighter color and weight than the ‘96 Asili. Fragrant, floral aromas with ripe red fruit that gush out of the glass. Beautiful lightness and complexity with light herb sprinkled in with the glorious fruit, and great acidity. At first, a shorter finish with more grainy tannins but this harmonized and lengthened with more time in the glass. This slays with its complexity and elegance, and we all might have sworn that this, not the Asili, was the Barbaresco. Probably my wine of the evening as it evoved.

Again a shade lighter than the 1996. Pine and dark red fruit aromas. More typical weight than the supernally dense 1996, cherry fruit, some tar, and structure that is more framed by superb acidity than its moderate tannin. Like the 2001 Giacosa, it continued to benefit from even more aeration. Excellent with outstanding potential for another 10 to 20 years.

Deep amber orange. Smells like a rich PX sherry with a nutty, figgy quality. Viscous and very sweet, great purity of fruit, and surprisingly solid acidity. Delicious dessert wine.