1998 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco

Medium red. Floral nose combines strawberry, mocha and dried rose. Sweet and intensely flavored, with ripe, nicely integrated acids. Not especially fleshy for a '98 but boasts very good thrust and grip, not to mention solid structure. Finishes with dusty, fine tannins and very good length. This '98 includes the Produttori's crus, and was bottled in four installments. Obviously a very strong Barbaresco normale. Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.