are you kidding me?

2004 Pio Cesare Barolo SKU #1043661 95 points James Suckling What a nose, I love this! Decadent and intense with blueberries, meat, truffles, and a foie gras like character. Full and very velvety, super integrated, with a long and caressing finish. A triumph. Pull the cork, no need to wait. (5/ 2012) 94 points Wine Spectator *#8 on the Top 100 Wines of 2008* Extremely attractive aromas of blackberry, fresh mushroom and mahogany. Full-bodied, with lovely fruit, soft tannins and a long finish. Chewy, yet balanced and pretty. Builds on the palate. A big and juicy red. Best after 2010. (9/ 2008) 93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The estate's 2004 Barolo is very elegant in this vintage. Although the wine is firm and quite primary, the tannins are sweet, silky and refined. Today the wine reveals just a glimpse of its potential but it should develop into a gem with time. While most of the attention at Pio Cesare goes to the Barolo Ornato, this is the hidden beauty in this lineup. This Barolo is a multi-commune blend. Most of the fruit (60%) comes from the less well-exposed portions of the family’s Ornato vineyard, while the rest of the fruit is sourced from plots in La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga, Novello and Grinzane Cavour. The wine was aged in French oak casks (70%) and smaller French oak barrels (30%). This wine offers an incredible level of quality considering the production is 80,000 bottles. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. (10/ 2008) 92-93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Medium-deep red. Complex aromas of raspberry, musky tobacco and minerals; distinctly higher-pitched and more backward than the 2003 normale Then wonderfully rich and delineated, with underlying minerality accentuating the impression of primary fruit. Finishes quite long, with broad, full, thoroughly ripe tannins and terrific structure and grip. Offers impressive potential. (11/ 2007) Jancis Robinson Initial impression of sweet Christmas spice and dried fruit, then a more delicate floral touch, then more leathery on the palate but a lovely fresh spiced red fruit note of youth still running through the middle. Firm but very fine structure of marked but balanced tannin and acidity. Finishes long and already complex. 17.5+/20 points. (8/ 2008)