Francesco Rinaldi, Barolo Brunate, 2006

Traditional Barolo from one of Brunate's classic families, now with nearly two decades of bottle age. Francesco Rinaldi e Figli has worked the great La Morra-Barolo border cru of Brunate for generations, making wine the old way: no new oak, long macerations, and years of aging in big Slavonian botti. Brunate gives Barolo that prized combination of depth, power, and balance, and 2006 was a classic, structured vintage built for exactly this kind of patience. Mature now but with the firm spine these wines are known for, it is drinking well and will hold. Decant if you open it young of an evening.