Palladino 2016 Barolo "Parafada" 750ml

Of these three new Baroli from Palladino, the 2016 Barolo Parafada is the wine that, to me, offers the most enjoyable and accurate balance between power and elegance. These 2016 releases show enormous fruit weight and more alcoholic heat (with a 15% alcohol content in this case) than I would have expected. However, this wine rounds off that power with pretty layers of ripe cherry, black plum, spice, leather and licorice. This is a full-bodied Barolo to pair with breaded veal steak. The good thing about these wines from Palladino is that you don't need to wait too long to drink them. They are just about ready straight out of the gate, or you could put them aside and wait longer if you want.

Score: 94 points -- Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, 2020