Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto 2009

Dried cherry, tobacco, smoke, licorice and savory herbs on the nose — all the classic Giacosa signatures are present. Rich and broad on entry, with good depth through the mid-palate, but the finish tapers off and the wine struggles to sustain its initial promise. Sweet balsamic notes linger at the close. The color is already evolved, the flavors open and forward. What's missing is the charged intensity and staying power that define the great Falletto vintages. Drink over the next few years while the fruit holds.