1999 Castello di Neive, Barbaresco Riserva, Santo Stefano (RT95) Directly decanted into a clean bottle in early morning, corked for the day and then served directly from that bottle. Omnipotent on the nose, rich, dense and layered with sweet, ripe red fruit infused with black tea, rose petal and sweet cherry. The mouthfeel is enveloping, yet precise, carefully dosed with laser focus in every way. Gorgeous acidity to buttress the deeply ripe dense fruit combines beautifully with sweet, suave tannin to complete the overall impression of complexity, there is great persistence on the palate. A captivating and powerful Santo Stefano with a future that will be exciting to witness. My favorite Barbaresco of the night and my #2 Wine of the Night. Drink 2014-2040+
