Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala 2017 (750ML)

97 FS / 96 JS / 95 WS / 92 VM / 91 WA

Intense, sparkling ruby ​​garnet. Very intense and appealing nose, full of dried rose petals, blackberries and fine leather. Appears magnificently on the palate, lots of distinctive fruit like raspberries and blackberries at the start, dense tannins with a lot of melting, rich pressure in the finish, with pickled cherries in the aftertaste.-Othmar Kiem and Simon Staffler, Falstaff

Aromas of dried flowers, dried strawberries, lavender, and hazelnuts. Some roses, too. Full-bodied, chewy and powerful, yet the tannins are polished and very energetic. Lots of them, yet with gorgeous roundness and tension. Tight at the end, suggesting very serious aging potential. Try after 2025..—James Suckling

A solid, powerful style, this expressive red is well-marked by new oak, with plum, cherry, cigar box, menthol and sun-kissed hay flavors. Balanced and lively, with refined tannins and a long, spice-infused finish. Best from 2025 through 2042. 500 cases made, 50 cases imported. — Bruce Sanderson, The Wine Spectator

The 2017 Barolo Cicala is a powerful, deep wine. Black cherry, menthol, tobacco, scorched earth, chocolate and searing tannins are some of the signatures. The Cicala has plenty of depth, but my instincts say it will mature before the tannins soften. I would prefer to drink this over the next decade-Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media 

The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2017 Barolo Bussia Cicala reveals a deep garnet color with some dark copper. Like the other 2017 wines from this celebrated producer, I can't help but suspect that these areas of Bussia suffered from the heat and some of the other weather challenges associated with this growing season. A clear note of overt ripeness comes across as dried strawberry or sweet crème de cassis. The finish is similarly weighed down by the fruit weight and oak tannins.—Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate