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Barolo 2018

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Barolo 2018

Barolo 2018 – let’s take a look at the vintage

Barolo 2018 – delicious or disappointing? That is the question. But we’ll dig  into that a little later. First, let’s look at some facts. As a stark contrast to 2017, which was very dry, 2018 was quite rainy. There were 62 days of rain during the growing season, just like 2014, which was considered one of the rainiest years of all time. But a few things distinguish 2014 from 2018, including the temperature. The temperature was on average higher in 2018 compared to 2014, especially towards the end of the growing season.

So what does all this mean? Well, first of all, too much rain leads to a lot of work in the vineyards. All that humidity creates perfect conditions for downy mildew, a fungus growing on the grapes. The winmakers combat this by spraying copper sulfate, but they basically have to spray after every rainfall. If you have half a hectare, that’s probably not too big a deal, but when you have three, five, or 14, it’s a lot of work.

The heavy rain combined with the high temperatures, also means quite a lot of growth in the vineyards. Which in turn meant they had to be vigilant about managing their vineyards. I think that’s really the key in any vintage: work in the vineyard. Fabio from Burlotto prefers to call himself a “winegrower” and not a “winemaker”, because he first and foremost considers himself a farmer. And when you pay a lot of attention in the vineyards, “it’s difficult to have a bad vintage.”[i] And I agree. In my experience, a good winemaker will make good wines in every vintage. And so in some vintages, like 2018, my advice would be to chose the winemaker and not the wine, if that makes sense.

barolo 2018
Langhe July 2018

Barolo 2018 – many different opinions

I am not the first to share some thoughts on Barolo 2018. There have been split “reviews” on this vintage, both from the winemakers and from the wine reviewers. Some are on the more dramatic side, to the point of almost condemning the vintage. Others bear a more hopeful tone, highlighting that despite the difficulties of the vintage, the resulting wines are actually of higher quality than excepted.

Galloni said it’s “the most erratic, frustratingly inconsistent Barolo vintage” he has ever encountered. [ii]

Masnaghetti, a great source of information when it comes to Langhe, and the godfather of the Barolo maps, wrote this in his Barolo 2018 Vintage report: “In the history of Barolo, and not merely of Barolo, the vintages which presented themselves at their origin as problematical have been anything but rare. But, in a hypothetical classification of all the vintages, very few would be able to rival 2018.”[iii]  But although the season was difficult, he thinks the wines will be “classified in the future as of good level.”

Joshua Dunning, the talent behind Word On The Grapevine, called the vintage a “tangram”. If you had to google that word, don’t worry, I did too. A tangram is “a Chinese puzzle made by cutting a square of thin material into five triangles, a square, and a rhomboid which are capable of being recombined in many different figures”. [iv] And I think it’s a fairly spot on description. He goes on to say that “challenges notwithstanding, the finished wines are an altogether more positive picture than their contributory climatic components might suggest.”[v]

Davy Żyw from Berry Bro’s and Rudd dared to say that the Barolo 2018 has “a Pinot Noir-style personality.”[vi] The same comparison was made by Fabio Alessandria when I visited him November 2021. Davy Żyw made some good points in his Barolo 2018 Vintage Report, including that the “best wines of the ’18 vintage showcase the strength of this multifaceted and extraordinary terroir, elegantly choreographed and infused by an equal sense of calm and place.”

Now, some of you might be waiting for Piemontegirl’s opinion on Barolo 2018. I have to start by saying that I believe there is not such thing as a bad vintage. However, I do believe there are bad wines. I think there is a difference between the two. What is it that they say? The proof is in the pudding? Well, in this case, the wine… There are so many really good 2018 Barolo’s out there. Floral. Fruity. Balanced. Elegant. Crisp. Wow. Beautiful. Incredible. These are only some of the words I used to describe Barolo 2018. And so yes, the growing season was difficult. And yes, overall this vintage might lack some structure compared to 2017, 2016 and 2015. But there are plenty of good Barolo’s out there. You just have to find them.

Here are some of my favorites:

Barolo 2018 Tasting Notes

Bruna Grimaldi Barolo Bricco Ambrogio 2018

A classic nose, floral and fruity. Silky tannins. A very approachable Barolo.

Bruna Grimaldi Barolo Badarina 2018

A slightly vegetal and austere wine. Aromas of red fruit, leather and balsamic. Good structure.

Burlotto Barolo 2018

Masculine nose with aromas of leather and tobacco, but still fruity and quite approachable. A gentle and elegant wine.

Burlotto Barolo Acclivi 2018

The Acclivi is a bit deeper than the Classico. So elegant in the mouth with a very gentle structure. Fruity and crisp, with a long finish.

Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero 2018

Incredible nose with aromas of white pepper and red fruit, with a hint of spice. It was actually a bit spicy in the mouth as well. A very distinctive wine with a lot of personality.

Burlotto Barolo Cannubi 2018

With the Cannubi, the word elegance springs to mind. Elegant nose, elegant tannins, elegant structure. If I were to pick a wine to demonstrate how a Barolo should smell, this one would be a perfect example.

Chiara Boschis Barolo Cannubi 2018

I kid you not, my notes actually say “holy shit”.  What a nose! Crisp, mineral, complex, rich, beautiful, feminine. There are aromas of tar and roses. Good depth and long finish. Chiara herself describes the Cannubi as “a kind wine”. And I can’t argue with that.

Chiara Boschis Barolo Via Nuova 2018

The Via Nuova is a bit more austere. A fruity and balanced wine. I agree with Chiara that the 2018 Barolo’s are more Burgundian than other recent vintages.

Chiara Boschis Barolo Mosconi 2018

I guess the word I’d use about Mosconi is “more”. More complex nose, more masculine, more spices, more structure. There are also hints of orange, apricot, peach and white pepper in this wine.

Cristian Boffa Barolo 2018

A delicate and balanced Barolo, with aromas of red fruit and strawberry. Long finish, with round, sweet tannins. A very good Barolo!

Diego Morra Barolo Zinzasco 2018

Beautiful nose with aromas of fruit, flowers and white pepper. Round tannins and good body. A wine with quite a lot of depth.

Diego Morra Barolo Monvigliero 2018

Floral aromas with hints of white pepper. A very good wine with good structure. Might need some time to open up fully.

Fratelli Revello Barolo Gattera 2018

The Revello Gattera has aromas of red fruit, liquorice and roses. It’s an elegant wine with soft tannins.

Marengo Barolo Bricco Delle Viole 2018

Wow! What an incredible nose. So floral and fruity, yet complex. Smooth tannins. Easy to drink.

Marengo Barolo Brunate 2018

Tried this straight from the tank, before it went into the bottle. A beautiful wine. Complex nose with aromas of leather, tobacco and a hint of chocolate. Good balance and structure. Long finish. balance.

Marengo Barolo Riserva 2018

“Very young, but so good.” Enough said. Or maybe not, but that’s all my notes said…

Nadia Curto Barolo La Foia 2018

Amazing nose with aromas of roses, red fruit and a hint of tar? Good body with round, smooth tannins.

Nadia Curto Barolo Arborina 2018

The Arborina might be a bit more complex than the La Foia. More leather, tobacco and spice aromas. More powerful, more intense. This might be due to the south exposure and long extraction.

Paolo Giordano Barolo 2018

I was really impressed by this wine. Good structure, but still easy to drink. Round, well integrated tannins. And it really opened up in the glass.

Roberto Voerzio Barolo Del Comune de La Morra 2018

A complex wine with a good nose. Aromas of spices and a hint of mint. Delicious. Good grip in the tannins. A long finish.

Roberto Voerzio Barolo Brunate 2018

I’ve tasted this both from tank and from bottle. The tank sample had an incredible nose. Concentrated with aromas of dark fruit. Elegant. Classic. Then, when I tasted from the bottle the nose was quite closed. But it had that wonderful combination of a feminine nose and complex body. Tannins were a but dry, but the aftertaste was incredible. Long finish.

Roberto Voerzio Barolo Fossati 2018

I also tasted this from both tank and bottle. When I tasted from the tank the wine was quite masculine with aromas of tobacco, some herbs and quite harsh tannins. Then, when tasted from the bottle, the nose was still quite masculine, but the harsh tannins were gone and the wine was quite feminine. With a long, good finish.

Roberto Voerzio Barolo La Serra 2018

A wine with an interesting nose. Red fruit, spices and a hint of licorice? Smooth tannins, good body and good deoth. Easy to drink. Integrated tannins.

Roberto Voerzio Barolo Cerequio 2018

Stunning! I really liked this wine. Aromas of red fruit and tobacco. A bit austere maybe. But WOW what a delicious wine. A good example of how maybe the nose and taste don’t always “go together”.

Roberto Voerzio Barolo Rocche dell Annunziata 2018

Floral and feminine on the nose. Fruity, with grippy tannins.

Roberto Voerzio Barolo Sarmassa 2018

Quite aggressive at first sip, but when the grippy tannins disappear you’re left with delicious fruit. Looooong finish. PS: Only magnums.

Stefano Corino Roncaglie 2018

A floral, fruity and crisp Barolo. Smooth tannins. Quite classic.

Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2018

The 2018 is a bit more elegant compared to the 2017. Fruity with beautiful floral notes. A fairly structured wine with good depth.

Vietti Barolo Brunate 2018

The Brunate had a perfect Barolo nose. Complex and structured, but at the same time extremely elegant.

Vietti Barolo Ravera 2018

You can feel that power in the Ravera. Aromas of leather with a hint of balsamic. Complex but balanced.

Vietti Barolo Lazzarito 2018

Minty and herbal with a touch of balsamic. Round in the mouth, with a good finish. Very good.

Vietti Barolo Rocche di Castilgione 2018

A beautiful floral nose, a bit similar to the Brunate. Quite structured, but still elegant with a fresh fruitiness.

[i] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yidzttkqtw0 (58:20)

[ii] https://vinous.com/articles/the-enigma-of-2018-barolo-feb-2022

[iii] https://www.barolomga360.it/en/annata-2018/

[iv] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tangram

[v] https://wordonthegrapevine.co.uk/2018-barolo-vintage-report/

[vi] https://www.bbr.com/editorial/2022/barolo/barolo-2018-vintage-report

Recent Release from Vietti

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Anyone else excited about the most recent release from Vietti? I am! Believe me, these are wines to get excited about! As I’ve mentioned before, I like wines in every vintage. Vietti certainly makes good wines every year, and 2018 is no exception.

2018 Vintage

Looking back at the year 2018, you might remember that it rained quite a bit. It’s comparable to 2002, but the difference between the two vintages is when the rain fell. In 2018, the rain was concentrated around the growing season, especially in May.[1] It did rain above average most of the other months as well, causing an increase in work for the winegrowers. It’s not strange that one could think the 18’s would be “light”, especially compared to the 17’s. But so far I have been rather impressed with the 2018 Barolo’s I’ve tasted so far.

Recent Release from Vietti: Barolo 2018

Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2018

The 2018 is a bit more elegant compared to the 2017. Fruity with beautiful floral notes. A fairly structured wine with good depth.

Vietti Barolo Brunate 2018

The Brunate had a perfect Barolo nose. Complex and structured, but at the same time extremely elegant.

Vietti Barolo Ravera 2018

You can feel that power in the Ravera. Aromas of leather with a hint of balsamic. Complex but balanced.

Vietti Barolo Lazzarito 2018

Minty and herbal with a touch of balsamic. Round in the mouth, with a good finish. Very good.

Vietti Barolo Rocche di Castilgione 2018

A beautiful floral nose, a bit similar to the Brunate. Quite structured, but still elegant with a fresh fruitiness.

Recent release from Vietti: Barolo 2018

Vietti Barbera 2019

Vietti Barbera D’Alba 2019

A beautifully floral Barbera. Very aromatic. Quite concentrated, with good complexity. An incredible wine!

Vietti Barbera d’Asti 2019

A crisp and mineral Barbera, with aromas of cherry. Also quite concentrated, but a little bit less aromatic compared to the Barbera d’Alba.

Vietti Barbera d’Alba Vigna Scarrone 2019

Aromas of red fruits, especially cherry. Also some spice notes. A complex, balanced Barbera.

Vietti Barbera d’Asti La Crena 2019

The La Crena was a bit more subtle on the nose compared to the Vigna Scarrone, but also more structured in the mouth. Aromas of red fruits and spices. Will probably benefit from some time in the bottle. Has excellent potential.

Vietti Barbera d’Alba Vigna Vecchia Scarrone 2019

A very young wine that opened up in the glass. Good structure with a long finish. A full bodied, complex Barbera.

[1] https://www.barolomga360.it/en/annata-2018/

Vietti Barolo Castiglione

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Vietti Barolo Castiglione

Vietti Barolo Castiglione – the “entry” Barolo from Vietti. But, I am not sure calling it an “entry” Barolo really does it justice, as it’s a very high level Barolo, so I’ll refer to it as their “classic” Barolo instead. And what do I mean by “classic”? In the Barolo lineup, the Vietti Barolo Castiglione is the only blend Barolo, made with wines from different plots in the Barolo area. The rest are single vineyard Barolo’s, including Brunate, Monvigliero, Lazzarito, and Ravera.

View of Serralungs vineyards, including Lazzarito

When deciding which grapes to blend in the Barolo Castiglione, they always start with Ravera and add in the others. The blend can differ every year, but usually includes some grapes from Castiglione, Monforte, Barolo and La Morra. Vietti has many different vineyards to choose from, including: Bricco Boschis, Scarrone, Villero, Codana, Parussi, Brunella, Bussia, Le Coste, Le Liste, Ginestra, Mosconi, Boiolo, Rocchettevino, Fossati and Camilla.

Winemaking

They select the grapes from many different vineyards from different villages in the Barolo area, always starting with Ravera. The different single vineyards are vinified and aged separately, and then blended right before bottling. This allows them to highlight the typical characteristics of each terroir, resulting in the best wine possible. The wine ages for about 30 months in oak barrels of different sizes, before it’s blended and then bottled.

Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2017 and 2018

Vietti Barolo Castiglione Tasting Notes

I recently tasted the 2017 and 2018 Vietti Barolo Castiglione side by side, allowing me to really see some of the differences between the two vintages. As most of us know, in 2017 is was very dry and quite hot, as opposed to 2018 which was quite rainy. But, we, myself included, must be careful not to judge a vintage before we have had the chance to taste some of the wines. More often than not I am pleasantly surprised by the wines. Even in what could be classified as a “difficult” vintage. I think Fabio Alessandria said it so well:

Because we pay a lot of attention in the vineyard and in the cellar, I think that it’s difficult to have a bad vintage

Fabio Alessandria

In the Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2017, I found some warm notes, of darker and a bit riper fruits, but the wine is still fresh and fruity. I also found some spice notes. The tannins are quite round, and warm, if that makes sense. I would definitely call this a balanced wine, with a good finish. The 2018 is a bit more elegant. Fruity with beautiful floral notes. A fairly structured wine with good depth.

Barolo 2017

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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.

Barolo 2014

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Barolo 2014

Barolo 2014 gets a bad rap! With this vintage we truly see the power of wine journalists. What do I mean by that? Let me try and explain.

April showers bring May flowers

While this is a beautiful proverb, it was not the case in 2014. Instead of just April showers, it rained pretty much all of July. And not just a little bit of drizzle. It poured. I know, because I was there that year. It didn’t look good for the grapes and the winemakers were worried. And if that was not enough, the wine journalist and wine enthusiasts started to slam the 2014 vintage before the grapes were even harvested.

Here’s where it gets interesting: the weather picked up just in time for ripening season. While the Dolcetto and Freisa suffered quite a bit (also due to hail storms), the Barbera and Nebbiolo grapes were able to ripen just in time for harvest season. In the end, a year that seemed unsalvageable due to horrible weather conditions was indeed salvaged by good weather conditions.

The “Problem” with Barolo 2014

You’d think the winemakers would be happy with the way the vintage turned out. But, the damaged had already been done during the first half of the year. The 2014 vintage got such a bad rap that many had problems selling their wines. I think some still have 2014’s sitting in their cellar. In Norway, there are still Barolo 2014 available today, whereas the glorious 2016 vintage is sold out! And it’s such a shame because so many wonderful Barolos were made in 2014.

As Galloni said, “Navigating through the 2014 Barolo vintage is going to require a bit of work, although the time spent will be hugely rewarding.” And he is right. Good winemakers always make good wines, even in challenging years. Hard work pays off! And so while Barolo 2014 gets a bad rap, I’d encourage you to spend some time seeking out the great bottles that were made in this trying vintage. You’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Diego Barale in Cannubi

Tasting Notes Barolo 2014

Cascina Fontana Barolo

As Mario Fontana famously said: “The wine must reflect the season”. He said this while we tasted the Barolo 2014 together at his winery in July 2018. The wine was approachable and pleasant to drink, with plenty of fruit. It lacked a bit of structure, especially compared to the 2013 vintage but the wine did not live up to its “bad reputation.” In fact, it was quite the opposite!

Diego e Damiano Barale Barolo

Diego Barale has a soft spot for his 2014 Barolo. And I can see why. Beautiful aromas of roses, leather and liquorice jump out of the glass inviting you to taste it. The wine is light and fresh with smooth tannins making it very approachable. According to the brothers, they don’t feel their 2015 is ready yet. And while we wait for it to be ready we can drink the 2014. Which is what we did the summer of 2020.

Fratelli Alessandria Barolo

Blindtasted this against another wine October 2019 and I would NEVER have guessed it was 2014. Aromas of strawberries and other red fruit. Smooth but persistent tannins. Very fresh. A wonderful wine.

Giovanni Corino Barolo Arborina

Tasted this at the winery with Veronica Corino March 2018. As predicted, it did not have the same structure as 2013, but the wine did not feel like it was lacking anything. I think we should move away from using the terms “good” and “bad” when talking about vintages, and instead focus on the differences. Because every year is different. We just have to remember that different isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Trediberri Rocche dell’Annunziata

A little closed on the nose when first opened, but after a while aromas of red fruits appeared. Good acidity, balances with a long finish. A fresh and approachable Barolo. Tasted in April 2019.

Vietti Barolo Lazzarito

Aromas of wet earth, mushroom, truffle and leather. Approachable, but perhaps a little green on the nose? Quite complex. Tasted this as a “pop and pour” at the winery August 2019. Would probably benefit from a little bit of air.

Barolo 2014 for my Norwegians:

There are still some Barolo 2014 available at Vinmonopolet!

Brovia Barolo Unio

Curto Barolo Arborina

Elio Grasso Barolo

Veglio Barolo Castelletto

Barolo 2016

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Barolo 2016 – the vintage to rule them all? Every vintage is different. Some are hot, some are cold, some are dry and some are wet. And then you have everything in between. Sometimes, you have a vintage where everything kind of lines up. 2016 is such a vintage.

Barolo 2016 : Right place, right time – Vinous

Marengo Barolo 2016

Climate

What is the best weather, you might ask. The reason it’s hard to answer this question is the fact that each step of the way, the grapes need different things. You want rain in the growing season, but not too much. During the harvest, the absence of rain is preferred. It needs to be warm, but not too warm, and you also want the nights to be cooler toward the harvest, but not too cool. The grapes are indeed quite high maintenance.

But then you have the “magic” vintages. The weather in 2016 was just about as perfect as can get for the Nebbiolo grapes. The growing season was long, there was an absence of natural disasters like hail, the weather was stable toward the end of the season and the harvest was late.

Barolo 2016

A lot of good Barolos came out of 2016, but what struck me the most is the high quality of the classic blends compared to the Cru Barolos. The classic blends are usually simpler, less complicated and can sometimes be perceived as inferior to the Cru Barolos. But in 2016 the disparity between the two is much smaller. I found the blends to be approachable, elegant, fresh and complex. It might be the year to stock up on the classic blends and give your wallet a break.

Top 5

Among the Barolo 2016s I’ve tasted, a few stood out. The unifying aspect connecting these wines was the “wow” feeling I got when I tried them. They were more than good wines, there was something extraordinary about them.  

Azelia Barolo Cerretta 2016 – Now we’re talking! A powerful Barolo with an explosive nose. Notes of chocolate, tobacco, fruit. Big but sweet tannins.
Burlotto Barolo 2016 – Holy shit. An incredibly approachable Barolo with elegant tannins. On the nose you’ll find hints of spices, tobacco, some chocolate and violets.
Diego e Damiano Barale Barolo 2016 – Smooth and elegant Barolo with notes of leather, roses and red fruit. Excellent structure with round but persistent tannins.
Francesco Borgogno Barolo Brunate 2016 – Beautiful nose, just like a Brunate should smell. Elegant wine with a long finish. Hints of tar on the nose.
Marengo Barolo Brunate 2016 – Holy tits on toast. Those were my exact notes. A beautiful nose – floral and fruity. Elegant tannins, very smooth. This wine has huge potential.

Note that our tastes may differ, and these are based on my personal preferences. The wines are sorted in alphabetical order.

Barolo 2016 Tasting Notes

Andrea Oberto Barolo Commune di La Morra
A very fresh Barolo with some balsamic notes. Hint of red fruit and tobacco. Tasted blind next to Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata 2016 and Barolo Arbarella 2015.

Andrea Oberto Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata
Lovely floral and fruity nose. A big wine with sweet (round) tannins. My favorite Barolo 2016 from Andrea Oberto. Tasted blind next to Barolo 2016 and Barolo Arbarella 2015.

Andrea Oberto Barolo Albarella
A very floral and feminine Barolo with hint of licorice. Tasted next to the Barolo Albarella 2015, and although 2015 is a good vintage, 2016 is definitely more expressive and approachable.

Azelia Barolo
Floral and fruity nose, elegant tannins, good structure and long finish. A classic Barolo with grapes from Castiglione and Serralunga, giving the wine a good mix of feminine and masculine characteristics.

Azelia Barolo Margheria
A powerful wine! Notes of tobacco, chocolate and spices.

Azelia Barolo San Rocco
Another big wine from Azelia. Notes of chocolate and warm dark fruit.

Azelia Barolo Cerretta
Now we’re talking! A powerful Barolo with an explosive nose. Notes of chocolate, tobacco, fruit. Big but sweet tannins.

Burlotto Barolo
Holy shit. An incredibly approachable Barolo with elegant tannins. On the nose you’ll find hints of spices, tobacco, some chocolate and violets.

Burlotto Barolo Acclivi
My first thought: What an extreme difference to the classic. The nose was so much more explosive. Roses, wet forest floor, spices. Smooth tannins. Spicy in the mouth.

Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero
Again, so different on the nose. Typical monvigliero notes, almost like perfume. Spicy and floral. Impressive wine that is both powerful and elegant at the same time, with a long finish.

Burlotto Barolo Cannubi
Floral, fruity, fresh. Bigger in the mouth than the other three. Big but with sweet tannins, making it relatively approachable now. But this is a wine I would store for a while.

Cascina Fontana Barolo
“A wine complete” – Mario. Everything is good – well integrated, good nose, good structure. Elegant with a long finish.

Cascina Fontana Barolo Castiglione
More masculine notes compared to the classic Barolo.  Bigger in the mouth, but still elegant.

Cavallotto Barolo
Beautiful nose with notes of roses, fruit and leather. Very elegant tannins.

Cavallotto Barolo Vignolo
Big but approachable. Notes of roses and tobacco. Long finish.

Chiara Boschis Barolo Cannubi
Explosive nose, very feminine and fresh. A very elegant Barolo.

Chiara Boschis Barolo Nia Nuova
Via Nuova is a lot bigger than Cannubi, more masculine.

Chiara Boschis Barolo Mosconi
A big wine with a long finish. Can feel the Monforte tannins. Huge potential!

Cristian Boffa Barolo Capalot
A delicate Barolo with a floral nose and round tannins.

Diego e Damiano Barale Barolo
Smooth and elegant Barolo with notes of leather, roses and red fruit. Excellent structure with round but persistent tannins.

Diego Morra Barolo Zinzasco
Balsamic and tobacco on the nose with a hint of chocolate. Big round tannins but they go away quite quickly and then you’re left with beautiful fruit and chocolate.

Diego Morra Barolo Monvigliero
Typical Monvigliero nose, with a hint of spices. Sweet, round tannins.

Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera
A big Monforte Barolo with notes of red fruit and licorice. Fairly approachable for a Monforte Barolo

Elio Grasso Barolo Ginestra Casa Mate
More explosive nose compared to the Gavarini Chiniera. A big wine with persistent tannins.

Ettore Germano Barolo Serralunga
Spicy, floral and fruity. Elegant but with good structure. A powerful and balanced wine.

Ettore Germano Barolo Prapo
A powerful yet elegant Barolo with softer tannins.

Ettore Germano Barolo Cerretta
More powerful and concentrated. Balsamic nose with hints of concentrated fruit. Powerful tannins, a rustic Barolo.

Francesco Borgogno Barolo Brunate
Beautiful nose, just like a Brunate should smell. Elegant wine with a long finish. Hints of tar on the nose.

Fratelli Revello Barolo
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.  

Giovanni Corino Barolo Del Comune di La Morra
Typical Barolo nose with notes of dark red fruits. Strict tannins but still relatively approachable.

Giovanni Corino Barolo Bricco Manescotto
Round and elegant tannins, almost reminding me of a Langhe Nebbiolo. Some balsamic notes.

Giovanni Corino Barolo Arborina
Very approachable with silky smooth tannins. Good structure. Notes of flowers, cherries and other red fruit.

Giovanni Corino Barolo Giachini
Approachable with elegant tannins. Fruity and floral with notes of tar and warmer fruits.

Gianfranco Alessandria Barolo
Notes of oak, spices and rose petals. Big tannins, typical of a Monforte Barolo. Very good, long finish.

Gianfranco Alessandria Barolo San Giovanni
This Barolo smells just like e a Barolo should smell. Some oak notes in addition to notes of licorice, leather and cherries. Big in the mouth, a typical Monforte Barolo. A tad spicy with a long finish.

Luigi Pira Barolo Del Comine di Serralunga
Elegant nose with hints of roses and spices.  A big but elegant wine, with persistent tannins.

Luigi Pira Barolo Margheria
Round and elegant, yet persistent. Notes of roses, leather and licorice.

Luigi Pira Barolo Marenca
A more masculine and austere Barolo, but also quite crisp and fresh. Notes of tobacco, spices and menthol.

Luigi Pira Barolo Vignarionda
Beautiful nose with notes of roses, red fruit and chocolate. An explosive wine with a long finish.

Marengo Barolo
Smells just like a Barolo should, with notes of roses, leather and fruit. Smooth tannins that disappear quickly.

Marengo Barolo Bricco Delle Viole
A more floral nose compared to the classic, with hints of roses and violets. More tannins than the classic as well.

Marengo Barolo Brunate
Holy tits on toast. Those were my exact notes. A beautiful nose – floral and fruity. Elegant tannins, very smooth. This wine has huge potential.

Mauro Veglio Barolo
Subtle nose with notes of spices, leather, flowers. Tastes just like a Barolo should taste – elegant and balanced. A big powerful wine, yet elegant, with a long finish.

Mauro Veglio Barolo Arborina
Smells like Arborina, a beautifully feminine wine. Notes of rose petals with a hint of leather. An impressive Barolo that’s smooth in the mouth. Arborina tends to be more direct/vertical than Gattera.

Mauro Veglio Barolo Gattera
Slightlymore masculine than Arborina. Notes of wet soil, spices, leather on the nose. Bigger tannins, rounder, more complex than the Arborina.

Mauro Veglio Barolo Castelletto
Very spicy nose. Notes of tar and forest floor. More tannins and more structure than Arborina and Gattera.

Mauro Veglio Paiagallo
Mauro Veglio Barolo Paiagallo 2016 has a very elegant nose of red berries, mainly strawberry and raspberry. The wine is powerful but elegant. Remarkably soft tannins!

Mauro Molino Barolo Bricco Luciani
Feminine with smooth tannins. Red berries and floral notes.

Nadia Curto Barolo La Foia
More tension than 2015. Fresh and crisp. Big but elegant.

Trediberri Barolo
Roses, tobacco and tar. A wonderful, big Barolo. Might need some time in the glass to open up.

Vietti Barolo
Perfect Barolo nose! A powerful wine with big tannins but they disappear quickly and you’re left with wonderful fruit.

Vietti Barolo Lazzarito
Fresh nose, very fruity and floral with hints of spices and forest floor. Good structure.

Vietti Barolo Ravera
Balsamic nose with hints of leather and licorice. Spicy in the mouth with a long finish. This wine needs time

Vietti Barolo Brunate
Beautiful nose –  floral, elegant, fruity. Powerful but also elegant. Long finish.

Celebrating?

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Norwegians are gearing up for Constitution Day. Many are graduating from school this spring. Perhaps some of you are getting ready for a birthday or an anniversary? And what better way than to celebrate with some good wine!

Champagne

I personally celebrate with Champagne. There’s something about bubbles that puts me in a festive mood. And I have a few “regulars” that I go back for. Bereche Brut Reserve 495,00kr is one of them. A very fresh and crisp wine, with subtle bubbles, just the way I like it. Agrapart Terroirs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 568,10kr is another great wine. It’s a little more expensive, but worth it if you want to celebrate a little extra!

Pierre Peters Brut 399,90kr still has to be the Champagne with the best QPR. Even with the small increase in price, it’s still under 400kr and one of my go-to when drinking bubbly. But if I really want to celebrate, I sometimes get Philipponnat Royale Réserve Brut 559,90kr. After meeting Charles Philipponnat at a winemakers dinner many years ago it has been my favorite!

White Wine

Not a fan of bubbles? Not even Champagne? Don’t worry! There are many other wines in the world. White wine is a good alternative. Vietti Roero Arneis 249,90kr is perfect for summer. Goes well with seafood, salads and light dishes. And while we are in Piemonte, maybe try the Diego Morra Chardonnay 198,00kr. Although a Chardonnay from Piemonte is typically more mineral than a Chardonnay from Burgundy, it’s still juicy and fresh. But if Burgundy is more to your liking, try the Matrot Bourgogne Chardonnay 250,00kr.

Red Wine

After drinking some Champagne and white wine, red wine often becomes an obvious choice. Need something light that doesn’t necessarily require food? Dolcetto is the grape for this scenario. Just saw that Cascina Fontana Dolcetto 260,00kr arrived in Norway, and I had to run out and get a bottle. Luigi Pira Dolcetto 205,90kr is a good, slightly cheaper option. And I know we are all excited to see the Dolcetto from Trediberri!

Speaking of Trediberri, his Barbera at only 189,90kr is still the best buy in Norway at the moment. There are plenty other great Barbera’s, and one of them is the Altare Barbera 315,00kr. Prices recently went up in Norway, and unfortunately this wine is no longer under 300kr. I blame Covid-19…

Anyways, on to brighther topics. Ghiomo just made it’s debut in Norway and the Ghiomo Vigna Grand Langhe Nebbiolo 249,60kr would go great with some barbequed meat! Lastly, the personal favorite: “Pylsa & Barolo”. Maybe not the most obvious wine pairing, but interestingly enough, hot dogs and Barolo pair very well. Try the Marengo Barolo 399,90kr or Guido Porro Barolo Santa Caterina 2011 437,00kr.

Favorites @ Vinmonopolet

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Cavallotto

Barbera d’Alba 2017 308kr (New Vinatage)
Cavallotto’s barbera supriore is excellent. 2017 is not my favorite vintage, but when you’re a good winemaker, you make good wines in any vintage. This is a barbera that has excellent aging potential. It spends 15-18 months in big barrels and then 6 months in the bottle before it’s release. Good acidity, dark fruits, intense – perfect with pasta or pizza.

Langhe Nebbiolo 2017 280kr (New Vintage)
Cavallotto makes their Langhe Nebbiolo almost like a barolo. The grapes come from the Barrolo Cru vineyards and spend 15-18 months in big barrels after a long fermentation. The tannins are quite persistent, but the fruit shines through and lasts a while in the mouth. Can drink now, but I’d keep it for a little bit.

Moccagatta

Moccagatta Barbaresco Bric Balin 2016 575kr (New Vintage)
I’ve recently been served this blind, and I was mega impressed. 2016 is a big vintage, but the tannins disappear quite quickly and you’re left with an impressive fruit boquet.

Vietti

Vietti Barolo Castiglione
While we’re waiting for the 2016 Barolo’s from Vietti, the 2015 is drinking quite nicely right now!

Trediberri

Shhhh don’t tell anyone, but the 2016 Barolo from Trediberri will be released tomorrow! I’ve only ever tried it directly from a freshly bottles bottle, but I can tell you that the wine is INCREDIBLE.

Wines for your Valentine

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Want to impress your date on Valentine’s day? Or maybe you want to treat your significant other to something special? Perhaps you’re just getting drunk with your friends. Who cares? There’s always an opportunity to drink wine!

Here are my top choices for Valentine’s day:

Pierre Peters Cuvée de Reserve Grand Cru

At 379kr, this is my go to Champagne! Perfect for an aperitivo, a welcome drink or just because. And if you live in Oslo, it’s readily available in the local wine stores.

Agrapart Terroirs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs

I am a blanc de blanc girl. 100%. It’s an excellent alternative to the Pierre Peters that won’t break the bank. With subtle bubbles, crisp fruit and long finish it’s easy one of my favorite Champagne’s these days!

Vietti Roero Arneis

This might be one of my favorite white wines from Piemonte. If you haven’t tried Arneis before, you should give it a go!

Citrus and stone fruit on the nose. Perfect contrast of sweet and sour in the mouth. Very good acidity and long finish.

Jean Marc Boillot Macon-Village

Are you a Chardonnay person? Or a white wine person? Then you’ve got to try this one. And it’s finally back in stock in many stores. So if you live in Oslo, Asker or Bærum, count yourself lucky!

Cascina Fontana Barbera

A killer Barbera available at a few local stores in Norway. Mario makes Barbera “The Mario Fontana way” and I love it. Cascina Fontana normally follows the “traditional” winemaking method, but not for the Barbera. Instead of big barrels, the barbera spends time in concrete tanks.