Fiorina, Barbaresco, 1971

A piece of Piedmontese history: Franco Fiorina was one of Alba's celebrated old-school houses, known for traditional, long-lived Nebbiolo. This is their classic Barbaresco from the 1971 vintage, widely regarded as one of the great Piedmont years of its era. A bottle past fifty years old is a rare window into how these wines evolve, and the well-regarded vintage gives reason for optimism. Approach it as the adventure it is, stand it upright beforehand and decant gently off the sediment, with realistic expectations for a wine of this age.