Jay Kline

9.5

The Scavino family’s holdings in the Rocche dell’Annuziata MGA have always been quite special and at Paolo Scavino, it’s bottled as a Riserva. This 2016 was popped and poured and enjoyed over a several hour period. It pours a deep ruby with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of dark cherry, red roses, some tar, dried herbs, gentle warm spices and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. There’s wonderful concentration and the finish is grippy, long and delicious. As far as Riserva’s go, this is a winner. And, because this is a 2016, you can drink now (with some patience) if you wanna enjoy in its relative youth but this will undoubtedly last for decades.

Over the last 70+ years, Enrico Scavino was a force behind the family’s expansion in the Barolo region. And while he was never been shy about innovation (Enrico was one of the “Barolo Boys” after all), he was a bit more judicious with his use of new French oak; careful to ensure each vineyard’s story was being told. Increasingly, there has been an even greater lean towards a more traditional touch with less time spent in barrique (very little of it new) and more time spent in botti. And while the quality has never really been an argument, the results are evident in the glass and I’ve been impressed with the wine of the last several years. But I digress, the real news is that Enrico passed away in late February which means Piemonte has lost yet another legend.
— a year ago

Jay Kline

9.3

The Bricat vineyard is a unique site located within the Gramolere MGA that just so happens to be planted to a healthy percentage of the rare Nebbiolo Rose. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2014 “Bricat” pours a striking pale garnet color with an orange-ish rim and a transparent core. Medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and no signs of sediment. On the nose a beautiful perfume of tart cherry, roses, tar, dried herbs and dried earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is long, lovely. 2014 was a challenging year throughout Barolo but some producers were able to do quite a lot, despite the challenges. In those cases where hail didn’t annihilate the vines, their efforts in the vineyard to overcome the challenges associated with rain resulted in beautifully honest expressions of the terroir. The 2014 “Bricat” by the Manzone family is such an example. Drink now and through 2034 with ease.
— 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Cascina Ornato is located in the southern portion of Serralunga d’Alba, right along the ridge. The elevation is higher here and the Ornato MGA falls to the west and south from there. Ornato is nearly a monopole for Pio Cesare would it not be for a couple of parcels that are controlled by Palladino. This bottle of the 1982 was generously provided from the cellar of a good friend; it was opened and enjoyed over two days. On Day 1, half the bottle was poured into a decanter and served immediately. The color was a slightly hazy garnet with an orange rim. On the nose and the palate, the wine came across rather tired. It wasn’t dead…and it definitely wasn’t vinegar, it just was...a bit dull. Since there were other wines open that were showing very well, we let it sit. At the end of the night, we poured what was left back into the bottle and I elected to take it home; hoping that it might wake up overnight. On Day 2, the wine had transformed. The color had deepened and everything had brightened up! The nose is loaded with tar, desiccated red fruits, sweet pipe tobacco accompanied by porchini, forest floor and dried, cracked leather ball glove…like after pitching 6 innings of baseball in the middle of July (IYKYK). On the palate, the wine is dry with surprisingly vigorous structure! The tannins are more pronounced than they were the day before and there’s also great acid to give everything a buoyant lift and some youthful energy. The fruit and non-fruit notes from the nose are confirmed with an added element of red rope licorice. Somehow, this is younger today than it was yesterday. At forty years old, this bottle clearly needed time to stretch its legs. Drink now with several hours of air but remarkably well-cellared examples could last for many more years. An illuminating experience in so many ways!

Something worth noting: Pio Cesare did not begin bottling single-cru Barolo “Oranato” until 1985. Curiously, this bottle was labeled “Vino da Tavola del Piemonte”. I reached out to Pio Cesare in hopes of getting some additional information and they were very kind to share some helpful detail. It turns out this bottling was an idea from their former importer, Terlato, with grapes for this wine sourced by Cascina Ornato. It was a traditional blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera! A long time ago they had a small amount of Barbera planted there. Now, Ornato is more or less 100% Nebbiolo. The “Vino da Tavola del Piemonte” was a sort of predecessor to the “Langhe Rosso” designation since there were not many appellations back in those days. The more you know!
— 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Tonight, this bottle of 2010 Fenocchio Barolo “Villero” gave a masterclass on the character and virtues of the Villero MGA. I have always felt that massive patience would be required for the 2010 vintage since the wines are so structured. However, the Villero fruit, as it so often does, showed through with aplomb. The most prized parcels are located in the upper portions of the vineyard and this is where Giacomo Fenocchio’s holdings reside.

Opened and simply allowed to breathe for about an hour before dinner. In the glass, the wine pours a luminous ruby color with a transparent core. No staining of the tears. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, the wine is expressive with notes of dark cherries, sandalwood, anise, fresh red roses and tar. On the palate, the wine is bone dry and the structure, in typical 2010 fashion, remains monumental…even at 12 years of age. In fact, the tannin seemed to build as the hours went by. That being said, the fruit was still abundant and full of class: cherries, forest strawberries, dry earth, spiced meat and minerals. Juicy and textured at the same time and the finish was hedonistic. While this is already drinking so well, this will have a long life. Drink now with patience and through 2040. — 3 years ago

Randmaster Flash

8.9

Very delightful — 7 years ago

Manuel Buergi

9.4

Pnp, respectively Coravin & pour. 1 large glass filled well ("Zalto Burgundy") and I left it breathe for about 1-2 hours.

I am reminded with every sip, why i love this MGA so much. The 1998 "Vigna Rionda" doesn't show a single sign of being almost 20 years old, instead I find in it a beguiling freshness, a pure & pretty ruby red color (maybe with very slight brick red signs) and a load of silky noble tannins. The nose is very terroir-typical and after drinking many many La Morra Baroli lately, it feels like an explosion of its own kind - in the nose and palate. Serralunga!

This - to me - is "Vigna Rionda" of Serralunga d'Alba in a very pretty expression: fine licorice with hints of cola, graphite, fruitcake, sweet exotic spices, cuban tobacco, fig jam. The more air it gets in the big "Zalto Burgundy" glass, the more flavors unfold. The tannins are well integrated, they feel warm and kinda "linger" in the back. I am really impressed, especially as 1998 is not the greatest vintage of the 90s.

Compared with a 2000 mag last year, this 1998 showed much fresher and felt younger. Blind, I would have said it's a 2001 perhaps — 8 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

BTG at Howard Street Wine Merchants. The 2017 Prapò pours a deep ruby with a garnet rim and a transparent, but nearly opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with no staining on the tears. On the nose, this was initially funky stewed cherries, Twizzlers and tar. The fruit profile seemed to freshen up with some air and along came a dozen dark red roses, leather, dried herbs, orange zest, and some asian spices. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Sometimes I wonder how certain 2017 Barolo’s will age, primarily due to the heat and solar nature of the vintage. This is one that has me scratching my head. Perhaps it’s the healthy southern exposure of the Prapò MGA? It’s drinking well now on the pop and pour but I’m curious how it will show towards the end of the decade? I say drink’em. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Gallinotto is an official vineyard located within the Giachini MGA. It’s notably unique due to its exposure and soil composition relating much closer to Rocche dell’Annunziata, just a bit lower in altitude. FWIW, I have found that the Barolo of Mauro Molino get more interesting with each passing vintage; presenting a really smart value.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over a two hour period. The 2019 “Gallinotto” pours a bright garnet with a translucent core and a slightly orange rim. Medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, developing with predominantly fresh red fruits: raspberries, cherries, strawberries with some pomegranate, roses, orange peel, gravely earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with sneaky high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is a very elegant expression; juicy with a lovely, slick texture. Power is not a word I would use here but it’s very attractive. Drink now and over the next 15 years. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Oh. My. Goodness. I recently made a comment on another tasting note for a 2018 Barolo; pointing out that great producers made killer, classic wines in 2018. This is an even more remarkable example. Popped and poured; consumed over two days. Day 1 had the most beautiful aromatics; Day 2 brought the power. Both brought illumination. This was my first experience with Olek Bondionio. The wine pours a gorgeous, pale garnet color with a transparent core. No obvious staining of the tears. Medium+ viscosity and no signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is intense. A mix of red and dark fruit: Morello cherry, blackberries and positively redolent of roses. There is more, however. Perfumed scents of cedar, dried green herbs and dry earth can be smelled from across the table as the wine sits in the glass. Seriously, my 16 year-old son asked what smelled so good from across the dinner table. I asked him to smell the glass and he said, “yep…that’s it!”. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. On Day 1, the wine came across lighter and more Burgundian. On Day 2 it filled out; becoming darker…and bigger with an almost chewy texture. It finishes with a flourish and in a way that only Piemonte can do. It makes an impression. In this case, I’m now a fiend for it. This is a fabulous expression of the Roncagliette MGA. Drink now with patience or enjoy over the next 20 years. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

This bottle of 2010 Pecchenino “Le Coste” was pulled from my cellar on a “school night” and brought to a fun little gathering of service friends after their shift. Opened, splash decanted and consumed over three hours; served side-by-side with the 2010 Roberto Voerzio “Brunate”. The Pecchenino “Le Coste” was locked down pretty hard for the first 30 minutes but shifted dramatically before the hour mark. At that point, it was singing with bright, red and dark fruits, roses, tar and wrapped up in the most elegant package. Compared to the Voerzio, this was lithe and open-knit. A lovely, traditional expression of Barolo that, while endowed with the classic structure of 2010, is just beginning to offer up more of its charm. It’s probably worth noting that Pecchenino actually resides in the Dogliani commune, just across the boarder from Monforte d’Alba. Dogliani is where some of the highest expressions of Dolcetto are produced under the Dogliani Superiore DOCG classification. Pecchenino’s Dolcettos are lovely examples and super reasonable…but I digress. Back to this wine, “Le Coste” is a small-ish MGA in the Barolo commune that sits directly south of the town of Barolo and said to share some similarities with the Cannubi MGA just to the north. While I don’t have enough experience drinking wines made with the fruit from "Le Coste", I can certainly draw some parallels. Anyway, on this night, the "Le Coste" by Pecchenino wiped the floor with the "Brunate" from Voerzio, which couldn’t seem to really get out of the gate and even after 3 hours in a decanter. The Voerzio is gonna need forever to come back around. Drink now with at least 30min of air. Otherwise, this will continue to drink well through 2030+. — 2 years ago

Benno

8.9

This has a beautiful deep ruby colour, is well integrated, but maybe lacks a defining characteristic of a single MGA Barolo. Texture is good, tannins a touch dry, but otherwise good and would like to try again in a few years. — 5 years ago

Manuel Buergi

9.0

A special bottling of the producer Villadoria, 100%-owner of the "Cappallotto" MGA in Serralunga d'Alba (next to "Baudana" & "Meriame") and home of the famiglia Lanzavecchia. "Paradiso" is the official single vineyard here (best exposition, old vines). The vinifciation is traditional in botti grandi. A very beautiful, succulent entry level Serralunga Barolo, showing quite youthful in 2010, as expected. Dark fruit, menthol, lavender and a bit of leather are the prime flavors. High tannins, that are well integrated. Pretty good structure and length. — 6 years ago

Manuel Buergi

9.1

(Tasted at "Del Posto", La Festa del Barolo Masterclass Tasting)
One of my personal Top5 WOTD was Chiara Boschis' 2013 Barolo. Blended with fruit from Barolo (Terlo & Liste), Monforte d'Alba (Mosconi & Ravera) and Serralunga d'Alba (Gabutti & Baudana). I find this Barolo amazing since 2010, when it was first blended, but carried on the name "Via Nuova" (which was earlier a synonym for the "Terlo" MGA, from which the Barolo was made before). In every of these vintage Chiara imho managed to made an ultra high quality wine with the nuances of the vintage and a use of barrique how I love it. So the 2013 comes across very beguiling with tons of dark red fruit, red flowers and plenty of tannins. Sexy & elegant (less than the "Cannubi" though) but still a brawny powerful with a wine with muscles. — 7 years ago

with Julia

Jay Kline

9.5

Brought to V. Mertz from my cellar. Cascina Fontana is an ultra-traditional producer located in the commune of Castiglione Falletto; just across the border from Monforte d’Alba. The bulk of their holdings are western-facing parcels within the Mariondino MGA that were formerly part of the “Valletti Zone”. However, as an ultra-traditionalist, they only produce two Barolos and both are blends of fruit from different MGAs. One is labeled simply "Barolo" (which is a blend of fruit sourced from their holdings in both Castiglione Falletto and La Morra) and this wine, labeled under the “del Commune di Castiglione Falletto” designation. It is a blend fruit from Mariondino and the neighboring Villero MGA. Their holdings in Villero don’t suck either. Their parcels reside next to those of Vietti and Giacomo Fenocchio.

The 2016 Cascina Fontana pours a bright garnet with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous aromas of Morello cherry, bruised strawberry, pink and white roses with freshly cut stems, crushed rock and some tar. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. The texture? Simply divine. A debonair Barolo from Castiglione Falletto that paired well with Morgan Ranch wagyu tartar. Because it’s 2016 (and with a little Villero), you can drink now with patience and through…well…probably 2066. No cap. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.3

The “V.S. Caterina” is a single vineyard located in the southern most portion of the Lazzarito MGA, in Serralunga d’Alba. This is considered a monopole of sorts since Guido Porro is the sole producer from this vineyard. Geographically speaking, the holdings are ideal with great southwestern exposure, located close to the village of Lazzarito and right next to Vietti’s holdings.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over a period that lasted a couple of hours. The 2015 pours a bright, reflective ruby color with some hits of garnet towards the rim and a transparent core. Medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and no signs of sediment. On the nose, ripe cherries, strawberries, loads of roses, dried green herbs, and gravely earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. Superb balance. I didn’t buy many 2015’s from Barolo or Barbaresco because I didn’t really like them on release and they didn’t seem to have structure to carry the day. And while the latter may yet be true for extended aging, the 2015’s have been strutting their stuff over the last year, showing off all their solar glory. Drink now and over the next 7 years with ease. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

This bottle of 2010 Roberto Voerzio “Brunate” was generously provided by a friend who wanted to share this with me after service along with a few others from Tasting Group. Opened, splash decanted and consumed over three hours; served side-by-side with the 2010 Pecchenino “Le Coste”. The Voerzio “Brunate” was a relative hermit. Even after three hours in the decanter, it remained a bit of a wallflower while the Pecchenino was a whirling dervish on the dance floor. The classic structure of 2010 and the austerity of “Brunate” made for an impenetrable fortress, keeping the fruit under lock and key…and behind a moat and a drawbridge and stone walls with soldiers and trebuchets for that matter. Despite all of that, one does get the sense there is a deep core of high quality fruit recessed underneath the surface. It’s dark and mysterious…and simply hard to access at this moment in time. For what it’s worth, Voerzio’s holdings in “Brunate” come from the western portion of the MGA, on the La Morra side, right next to Oddero’s holdings. Frankly, this is going to need a long, long time in the cellar before it shows really well. If i had any in my cellar, I wouldn’t touch again until 2030. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Selected off the list at Boiler Room. Giacomo Fenocchio’s holdings in the Bussia MGA reside within the sub zones of Bussia Sottana (of which they enjoy some of the best parcels) and that of Munie. Opened about 30 minutes before service; no decant and no formal notes. The 2014 “Bussia” from G. Fenocchio starts off a little shy, but it gains weight and significant aromatic character with time in the glass. Bright cherries, slightly on the more tart side with tar over roses. The body seems a little demure early on but it eventually fleshes out and becomes almost chewy! The structure I want and expect from Barolo is there too with lovely acid and stiff tannins. The finish is long and savory. Last sip was the best. This was quite a lovely example of 2014 and a fine accompaniment to bone-in pork chops and Morgan Ranch beef cheeks. Drink now with some patience and over the next ten or so years. — 2 years ago

Manuel Buergi

9.1

#drinksatantonios
oddero's 1996 "rocche dei rivera di castiglione" falletto (today: mga "scarrone") did a fantastic job. an ultra classic and perfectly mature barolo. it does not reach the same heights as the 1996 "vigna rionda", "bussia-mondoca" or "rocche di castiglione" and it needed some time in decanter to open up. lots of dried flowers and berries, cedar, tobacco leaf, graphite and road tar. the tannic backbone is very good and brings structure. the saturating minerals and acdity keep the wine very alive in the palate and in a nice finish. — 5 years ago

Carlee Potter

9.5

Tried the 2014 vintage. Deep, rich plum and earthy flavors. Excellent example of a great Barossan Shiraz. Tastes more like a $40 bottle than $18 — 7 years ago

Manuel Buergi

9.2

(Tasted at "Del Posto", La Festa del Barolo Masterclass Tasting)
Massolino's "Margheria" reflects perfectly the Serralunga terroir, with dark flavours, lavender, licorice, iron and brawny but lovely tannins. Especially in an imho rather classic vintage like 2013, where Serralunga Baroli become real jewels. This is a deep and dark expression of Nebbiolo, a wine that needs and deserves time. I must say that I fall more and more in love with the "Margheria" MGA, that I definitely considered too little in the past. — 7 years ago

with Julia