Barolo 2017

Barolo 2017

Barolo 2017

Below are tasting notes of Barolo 2017 in alphabetical order.

Altare Barolo
The Altare Barolo 2017 has a beautiful Nebbiolo nose. Floral, fruity and mineral; Just like a Barolo should smell. On the nose you’ll also find aromas of cherry, chocolate, tobacco and rose petals. A balanced and approachable Barolo with good length!

Andrea Oberto Barolo La Morra
A subtle but floral Barolo with aromas of red fruit. The tannins are present, but not in any way aggressive. In Andrea’s own words, it’s “molto morbido”, which means “very soft”.

Andrea Oberto Barolo Arbarella
The Albarella is even more subtle nose, with aromas of tobacco, spices and red fruit. The tannins are round, but a bit bigger than the La Morra.

Andrea Oberto Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata
Round, good bodied and balanced. A big and complex wine that might need some time to open up in the glass. My favorite out of the three 2017 Barolo’s from Andrea Oberto.

Burzi Capalot
A more concentrated Barolo with aromas of dark red fruit and berries with a hint of tobacco. Some floral notes as wel

Cascina Fontana Barolo 2017
Beautiful on the nose, big in the mouth with robust tannins. This wine will benefit from some time in the bottle.

Cavallotto Bricco Boschis
Beautiful nose with aromas of  roses, herbs, red fruit and a hint of chocolate. Medium round tannins with a good finish.

Chiara Boschis Barolo Cannubi
The Cannubi is always more elegant than the Via Nuova and Mosconi. An attractive, voluptuous Barolo with good structure.  

Chiara Boschis Barolo Via Nuova
The Via Nuova has slightly bigger tannins compared to the Cannubi. In addition to the aromas of red fruit there are hints of herbs and spices.

Chiara Boschis Barolo Mosconi
The Mosconi was very floral and slightly feminine on the nose. Also quite aromatic. But in the mouth it’s more masculine. A big Barolo.  

Crissante Alessandria Barolo Del Comune di La morra
The Barolo Del Comune di La morra 2017 consists of 60% Rogeeri, 20% San Biagio and 20% Bettolotti. The wine ages for 24 months botte grande. The 2017 is quite concentrated and a bit war, with aromas of dark red fruit.

Diego Morra Barolo Zinzasco
Typical Barolo nose with aromas of red fruit, roses and spices. Well-rounded tannins and good balance. A beautiful wine.

Diego Morra Barolo Monvigliero
The Monvigliero is a bit “bigger” than the Zinxasco. Aromas of dark red fruit, spices and white pepper. Warm but not ripe. Big but balanced. A well rounded Barolo!

Ettore Germano Barolo Serralunga
A fruity, floral and fresh Barolo with a slight hint of mint. A more masculine Barolo with gripping tannins. Long finish. A very good wine.  

Ettore Germano Barolo Prapo
The Prapo Barolo is a bit more concentrated compared to the Cerretta. Warmer fruit, also a tad warmer in the mouth. A more linear wine, straight to the point.

Ettore Germano Barolo Cerretta
The Cerretta Barolo is quite fresh, with good fruit. A bit more complex than Prapo, with good fruit and some mineral notes.

Francesco Borgogno Barolo Brunate
The Francesco Borgogno Brunate was not as concentrated as many of the other Barolo 2017’s I’ve tasted. A big but elegant wine. Leaves you wanting more.

Fratelli Revello Barolo
The Fratelli Revello Barolo 2017 has that beautiful Barolo aroma. As with other 2017’s, it’s more concentrated than 2016, with aromas of dark fruit. There are also floral notes, a feminine touch, typical of wines from La Morra. Quite structured in the mouth, with good balance. The 2017’s are very young, and will probably benefit from some time in the bottle.

Fratelli Revello Barolo Conca
The Conca is more masculine than the classico. But it’s also a bit fruitier with aromas of red berries, Big tannins and good structure.

Giovanni Corino Barolo del Comune di La Morra
A complex nose, with hints of fruit. A more concentrated Barolo with relatively big tannins.

Giovanni Corino Barolo Bricco Manescotto
The Bricco Manescotto is quite similar to the Barolo del Comune di La Morra on the nose. Aromas of fruit and tobacco. Fruity in the mouth, followed by tannins.

Giovanni Corino Barolo Arborina
An aromatic Barolo with good concentration. Floral and fruity on the nose. A balanced wine with good tannins. Nice length as well. A great Barolo 2017!

Luigi Pira Barolo Vignarionda
The Luigi Pira Barolo Vignarionda is considered Pira’s top wine.  Aged for 24 months in a mix of barrique, tonneau and botte grande. Floral and fruity on the nose, with hints of mineral and we earth. The Vignarionda is a big, but the tannins disappear quickly, and you’re left with a well-balanced Barolo.

Marengo Barolo
The classic Barolo is a bit concentrated, similar to many other 2017 Barolo’s. The tannins are big and a bit more chewy, especially compared to the 2016, but the wine is good!

Marengo Bricco Delle Viole
The Bricco delle Viole has a beautiful floral nose with aromas of dark fruit. Also quite concentrated. Very easy to drink with lots of fruit and good length.

Marengo Barolo Brunate
The Brunate was a little bit closed at first, but opens up in the glass and becomes the Brunate we all know and love. A big but elegant wine with hints of tobacco and leather.

Mauro Veglio Arborina
The 2017 Arborina is perhaps a bit more masculine than the 2016. Aromas of darker fruits, flowers and a hint of tobacco. A very approachable Barolo.

Nadia Curto Barolo La Foia
The Nadia Curto Barolo La Foia is made exclusively with grapes from the Arborina vineyard. The 2017 was quite aromatic with notes of red fruits, flowers and a hint of tobacco. A good example of a 2017 Barolo!

Nadia Curto Barolo Arborina
The Arborina 2017 is a bit warmer than the Barolo La Foia 2017, with notes of darker red fruits and berries.

Principiano Barolo
An austere Barolo with aromas of leather and wet earth. Spicy in the mouth. A very interesting wine.

Roberto Voerzio Barolo del Comune di La Morra
The Roberto Voerzio Barolo del Comune di La Morra 2017 is quite concentrated. Aromas of red fruits with a hint of tobacco. Floral aromas of rose petals and violets. Feminine but concentrated. Develops in the mouth: Starts big, mellows out. Long finish.

Trediberri Rocche dell’Annunziata
The Trediberri Rocche is very inviting. Fruity and floral with aromas of red fruits and cherry. Perhaps a hint of licorice as well. Good balance and good length. An approachable wine.

Vietti Castiglione
A very fruity Barolo with a spicy nose. Perhaps a hint of mint? Balanced, approachable but also a bit austere. A very complex wine.

Fratelli Revello Barolo 2017

Fratelli Revello Barolo 2017

The Fratelli Revello Barolo 2017 has that beautiful Barolo aroma. As with other 2017’s, it’s more concentrated than 2016, with aromas of dark fruit. There are also floral notes, a feminine touch, typical of wines from La Morra. Quite structured in the mouth, with good balance. The 2017’s are very young, and will probably benefit from some time in the bottle. 

2017 vs 2016

Every vintage is different. Some are hot, some are cold, some are dry and some are wet. And then you have everything in between. You could refer to 2017 as a dry vintage. There was basially a drought from August to November. 2 days of rain in September “saved” the harvest, along with the water reserve from the rainfall in the spring. I’ve only tasted a handful of 2017 Barolo’s so far, but the vintage seems promising.

Fratelli Revello Barolo 2016

The Fratelli Revello Barolo 2016 seduces you with aromas of red berries, licorice, tobacco and roses. The wine is powerful yet elegant, with a round fruity feel backed up by a good structure.  

Fratelli Revello

The Fratelli Revello story dates all the way back to 1945, but it wasn’t until 1967 they started to vinify their grapes under a family label – Giovanni Revello & Figli. In 1990, Carlo and Lorenzo Revello took over the estate, and worked together until 2016 when they decided to go in different directions. Fratelli Revello stayed with Lorenzo while Carlo started his own label: Carlo Revello & Figli.

It’s quite common for wineries to divide and “multiply” as the family grows. The same happened to the Corino’s in 2005. Just imagine how many would end up working at a winery if everyone had 2-4 children each! I think it’s a win-win, because then each sibling gets to make wine in their own way and we get another interpretation of the wine!

Luigi Pira Barolo 2017

Luigi Pira Barolo 2017 & more

For many, the new year starts January 1st. For some of us, the real fun begins when the new vintages hit the market! The 2020’s should start to show up, and some have made their way to me! In addition to the new vintages of Dolcetto, Barbera and Nebbiolo, I was lucky to taste a Luigi Pira Barolo 2017 as well!

Luigi Pira Barolo 2017

Below are my tasting notes for the new vintages:

Luigi Pira Dolcetto d’Alba 2020

Luigi Pira’s Dolcetto is made with 40 year old Dolcetto vines. After spending 8-9 months in stainless steel, the wine is bottled and ready to go! The 2020 has a beautiful Dolcetto nose. Not as explosive and concentrated as 2019, but more floral with notes of dark red fruit and cherry. Good structure and relatively full bodied for a Dolcetto.

Luigi Pira Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2019

The Luigi Pira Barbera d’Alba Superiore ages 12 months in botte grande. The Barbera plants grow in Roddino a town that borders Serralunga d’Alba and Monforte d’Alba, and are about 20 years old.  

Luigi Pira Langhe Nebbiolo 2019

Released a year later than most of its “peers”, the Langhe Nebbiolo from Pira has spent about 12 months in big oak barrels. In addition to the terroir, the oak helps to give the wine its structure and complexity.
The 2019 is very fruity and crisp with hints of Strawberry. Full bodied and structured with tannins that disappear quickly, leaving you with red fruits. A balanced wine.
The Luigi Pira Langhe Nebbiolo 2018 was a bit different, with aroma of red fruit, leather, spices and tobacco as well as a hint of oak notes. Fruity in the mouth, crisp and complex. Persistent tannins with a long finish.

Luigi Pira Barolo 2017 – Vignarionda

The Luigi Pira Barolo Vignarionda is considered Pira’s top wine.  Aged for 24 months in a mix of barrique, tonneau and botte grande. Floral and fruity on the nose, with hints of mineral and we earth. The Vignarionda is a big, but the tannins disappear quickly, and you’re left with a well-balanced Barolo.