Elio Grasso, Barolo, Ginestra Casa Mate 2013

The 2013 Barolo Ginestra Casa Maté does a great job of portraying its vineyard characteristics. This single vineyard is located at higher altitudes with thicker clay soils. This combination helps to build the wine's intensity, structure and muscle. It undergoes 45 days of submerged cap fermentation. Dark cherry and blackberry open the bouquet. These aromas are followed by spice, smoke, iron and crushed mineral. The robust nature of those aromas makes for a beautiful contrast to the fine, silky and more delicate (relatively speaking) nature of the mouthfeel.

Grasso's 2013 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is powerful, deep and tightly wound, with a level of translucent energy that is alluring. Deceptively medium in body, the 2013 packs a real punch. The Casa Matè has also closed down considerably since I last tasted it. Not that that should be a problem, as the 2013 really needs a number of years to be at its very best.