1998 "Granbussia" Barolo Bussia Riserva

(bottled in 2002) Full medium red. Reticent but highly nuanced nose combines hints of superripe red berries, minerals, truffle, mocha and tar. Rich, thick and velvety, with superb ripeness supported by underlying minerality. Wonderfully dense Barolo, at once round and solid. Very long, slow-mounting finish features big, broad, horizontal tannins. Giacomo told me that this wine "kills" all the 2000s. 

- Stephen Tanzer (11/2004)

Very ripe, almost Port-like character, with wood, prune and toffee on the palate. Full body. Lots of wood, as always. But stylish, big and layered. Still needs time to resolve the wood.--1998 Piedmont blind retrospective (2008). Best after 2012. 770 cases made, 70 cases imported. (12/2008)

The 1998 Barolo Granbussia is a selection from the estate’s highest, but very well exposed, vineyards. Always released late due to its austerity in its first years, it is an impressive success in 1998 with important floral and cherry aromas mingled with smoke and tar, firm and elegant on the palate with an excellent balance of force and elegance. Still extremely fresh, it will still be drinking well in 2015. 

- Daniel Thomases (08/2005)