Scavino’s 2016 Barolo Ravera is another highlight in this range. Tense, brilliant and finely sculpted, the 2016 has so much going on. Crushed flowers, iron, mint and cedar add beguiling aromatic breadth to a core of translucent, intense Nebbiolo fruit. The 2016 really captures the energy that makes wines from this site so distinctive. The 2016 was fermented in stainless steel and aged entirely in cask.

Continuing in a tour de force presentation of some of the best growing sites in Barolo, the Scavino family introduces this, their second vintage, from the Ravera cru of Novello. The Paolo Scavino 2016 Barolo Ravera draws its fruit from an east-facing parcel that is one of the last to be harvested each year. The site shows cool climate conditions even in the warmer years. In a classic vintage such as this, the wine delivers pretty balance and integration. The character of the wine reflects the dark, sultry fruit qualities that we associate with Ravera—prune, plum, blackberry, tilled earth, truffle and an appetite-arousing touch of smoked bacon. That compilation of aromas is simply fantastic, and the wine shows a terrific quality of tannins, imparting inner tension, sharpness and precision.

This is all about purity of cherry and raspberry fruit, with hints of rose, mineral and wild underbrush. Very firmly structured, showing terrific balance and a long, energetic finish. Very sleek and graceful.

Lots of blue-fruit aromas, as well as ripe strawberries, violets and lavender, following through to a medium body, fine tannins and a really polished and creamy texture at the end.

Aromas of menthol, small red berry and espresso mingle with fragrant purple flowers on this fullbodied red. Elegantly structured, the palate offers Marasca cherry, spiced cranberry, star anise and crushed mint set against firm, fine-grained tannins. Give it time to fully develop