1997 Bruno Giacosa, Barbaresco, Santo Stefano (RT92) Tonight just wasn’t Santo Stefano’s night. Rather classic Giacosa in its hue, if not a couple shades darker than typical SS, showing classically succulent fruit with those sweet, ripe tannins that to my palate epitomize Giacosa’s winemaking style. Yet the overall impression is a bit simplistic and lacking the depth and dimension of its ’97 sisters Rabaja and Asili. With time in the glass, it rounds-out and plumps-up a bit, making it more complete, but it still isn’t firing at the level expected. The leftovers showed a bit better the next day, but all things considered it doesn’t strike me that the Santo Stefano vineyard did exceedingly well in the vintage. Drink 2012-2030 Tasted November 2007
