Elio Grasso
 
A producer whose wines have swung from traditional, to modern, and then more recently back towards a quite classic style, something special is afoot at Elio Grasso. The wines are increasingly well focused, precise, and superbly balanced. Their Riserva, Runcot, remains a modern styled wines but the two crus are gorgeously perfumed and at their best, electric as they dance in the mouth and should prove fascinating to follow as they mature. 
 
12,400 bottles of each cru of Barolo in 2010 from max production of 14k
 
 
A bit of wood on the nose followed by aromas of clay, silica, spice, lingonberry, and deep camphor and dried herbal note emerge from the glass. Powerful with dark, rich fruit on entry, this has rather soft tannins and bright acids supporting plummy, heavy, earthy flavors that are a bit chunky in the mouth. Dense with tannins, this is quite powerful but also shows  a bit front loaded with lingonberry fruit in alcohol on the palate, finishing a little short with some obvious alcohol poking out. 91pts
 
 
Delayed harvest a few days to get maximum ripeness , and it was already a late vintage, later than 2008
 
Smoky with a hint of cocoa on the nose followed by very mineral and herbal aromas, a tight floral note and lots of lingering camphor. Fine grained tannins lend this an austere, lean quality on entry, then this turns faceted in the mouth with great power and freshness. Elegant with fairly important red fruits and chinato herbs on the palate, this is rich with tannins and quite ripe but this offers compelling complexity with gorgeous freshness and complexity built on bright, juicy acids and wonderful balanced if a touch austere and on the elegant side of things. 94pts