2005 Italy

Approximately 8,000 bottles of Lisini’s Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is produced each year from a single 1.4 hectare vineyard. 2005 Ugolaia is a fine-boned, fragile wine with fragrant licorice aromas, suave tannins and a seared meatiness that typifies Lisini’s wines. Utterly compelling and very fine indeed.
David Berry Green, August 2011

While vintage 2004 was darker and fulsome, Maria Teresa's 2005 lifts the soul with a spirited spicy red fruit perfume, a delicate, gentle, velvety cherry stone palate and a sublime quality that perhaps only the Cantina Mascarello Bartolo can muster. Getting ahead of the Oct 10th rain seemed key to performing well in 2005, after what was a relatively mild summer. This is perhaps an apt advertisement for the benefits of blending vineyards together, four into one; a philosophy the Cantina holds dear. An Englishman’s Barolo? It's certainly sings of finesse. Drinking till 2020, along with lamb (Maria Teresa's favourite meat).
(David Berry Green)

As ever, Le Vigne's blend of vineyards brings complexity as well as homogeneity across vintages. 2005 is now different, being darker, fuller, meatier, the classic tar and roses character shown to great effect thanks to iron-rich soils. And as ever Luciano has left no stone unturned in his quest for perfection: Le Vigne's supremely supple despite the trickier red cherry stone vintage profile. Drinking now till 2020, along with duck.
(David Berry Green)

Sandrone's wines are well into the modern style of Barolo - their modern winery is hugely impressive and couldn't be more different than some of the region's more traditional producers. The wines are impeccably well made and the 2005 Le Vigne is no exception. Full, sweet fruit envelops a firm Nebbiolo backbone, and the fruit is in turn balanced by a flashy cloak of perfectly integrated new oak. Yes, this is modern, maybe flashy, but complete in every sense.
(BBR Fine Wine)

Subtle aromas of rose and blackberry follow through to a full body, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Unfolds on the palate. Layered and beautiful. Refined yet structured.
Wine Spectator - 30 Sept 2008