Barolo Lazzarito Riserva DOCG 2015 Germano

The 2015 Barolo Riserva Lazzarito (with fruit from Serralunga d'Alba) shows a generous, full-bodied consistency, with dark fruit, spice, baking clove and other dustings of exotic spice, such as cardamom and clove. That spiciness washes through the bouquet, and you can feel it on the palate, where the wine is structured and firm. Some 4,500 bottles were released.

Needs a bit of air to bring out the rich red-cherry aromas, then lots of floral and lightly spicy notes. Medium-bodied with intense, spicy fruit flavors that coat the very fine tannin structure and add length to the wine. Turns chocolatey at the end. Nice to drink now, but this will continue to improve in the bottle. Best after 2023.

The 2015 Barolo Riserva Lazzarito is the most potent of these new releases from Germano. The oak imprint for this wine still feels a bit too much, even if the Lazzarito is not as heavy or concentrated as it has been in some recent years. Ripe red cherry fruit, dried flowers, cedar and sweet vanillin give the Lazzarito its extroverted personality.