The 2012 Barolo Mariondino is incredibly powerful and dense, with darker tonalities of fruit than are usually found here. Menthol, pine, spice, French oak and a host of balsamic-inflected notes flesh out as the 2012 shows off its personality. Deep, powerful and juicy, the 2012 Mariondino is another winner from Marco and Tiziana Parusso. Readers will have to give the 2012 at least a few years to soften, as it needs time to settle down. Today, the 2012 is dense and explosive, with new oak that needs to integrate and tannins that need time to soften. (AG) 93+

Aromas suggesting mature dark-skinned berry, French oak, leather, menthol and parched soil come together on this. The round, dense palate is already accessible, offering fleshy black cherry, licorice, cured meat and espresso alongside ripe, chewy tannins. (KO)