Blackberry spice and chocolate aromas and flavors follow through to a full-bodied palate with chewy tannins and a long long finish. Big. I like this better than 2000 for this vineyard. Solid as a rock. Best after 2009. 600 cases made. -JS

2001 Barolo Pajana-Rich ruby. Though less expressive on the nose the 2001 Pajana offers an irresistible full-bodied profile packed with sensations of violets toasted oak spices licorice tar and sweet dark fruit with notable concentration and superb length. 93/drink after 2011 10/05My most recent visit provided an opportunity to taste a few wines I had previously tasted from tank before their bottling in during the summer of 2005. I also had a chance to re-taste the current Barolo releases as well as a few older wines with Domenico Clerico late last year in New York. It was an interesting as well as educational experience to re-visit the 1996s and 1998s as both vintages appear to still be on the young side. These are among the finest of the more modern-styled wines and readers who appreciate this producer's style will want to secure bottles of the older vintages while they are still available.My favorite wine has typically been the Ciabot Mentin Ginestra which comes from vines planted at 400 meters with a south to southeast exposure which gives the wine its characteristic explosive aromas. The Pajana comes from vineyard at 300 meters in altitude with a due south exposure and as would be expected it is a less perfumed on the nose but rounder and lusher on the palate. Clerico's Percristina is produced from old vines planted in the south-facing Mosconi cru. Stylistically I find it more similar to the Pajana though the older vines give this wine a more concentrated profile along with heady exotic aromas and flavors.