Scarzello, Barolo Vigna Merenda, 2001

The contemporary expression of Scarzello's flagship parcel, from one of Piedmont's great classical vintages. Vigna Merenda is a sub-parcel within Sarmassa in Barolo village — five small blocks separately harvested, vinified, and ultimately blended only in the best years — and the wine sees long Slavonian-botti aging in traditional fashion. At 24 years on, the 2001 has shed the strict architecture of its youth and entered the prime stretch of its drinking window: still tightly knit but unmistakably mature, with tar, dried rose, wild bramble and a touch of mushroomy underbrush wrapped around firm but resolving tannins. A small-estate Barolo from a vintage that rewards the long wait.