Coppo Barolo

Barolo is a Nebbiolo wine, and bottles under that name are typically built on structure: firm tannin, high acidity and a medium-ruby colour that can look lighter than the wine tastes. Expect aromas of dried rose petal, cherry, tar, licorice and dried herbs, with notes of leather, tobacco and forest floor as the wine develops. On the palate, styles like this are usually full-bodied but not jammy. The tart red-cherry and cranberry fruit sits over grippy, drying tannins, and the finish tends to run long, often with a bitter-orange or spice edge. Oak varies by house. Some producers use large, old casks that add little flavour, while others use small new barriques that bring vanilla and toast. Check the bottle's back label if oak style matters to you. Either way, the tannin and acidity make this a wine to serve with food, and its best partners are rich, savory dishes. Braised beef, osso buco, mushroom risotto, tajarin with butter and sage, and roasted game all give the tannins protein and fat to work against. Aged hard cheeses such as Parmigiano-Reggiano or aged Pecorino also suit it. Avoid very spicy dishes and delicate fish, which the wine's structure will overwhelm. Serve it slightly cooler than room temperature, around 60 to 65°F (16 to 18°C). A fully warm bottle shows more alcohol and less fruit. Wines of this type usually benefit from an hour or two in a decanter, which softens the tannins and opens the aromatics. If the bottle has some age, decant gently off any sediment and keep the time in the decanter shorter. A large-bowled red wine glass, such as a Burgundy-style or wide Bordeaux glass, gives the perfume room to develop and keeps the acidity from feeling sharp. On timing, Barolo generally rewards patience. Young bottles are often tight and tannic, and most styles settle and gain complexity over several years of cool, dark, steady storage on their sides. If you open it now, give it a long decant and serve it with a hearty meal. If you have a cellar, setting it aside for a few years is a reasonable plan.