Blind tasting: 10 highlights of Barolo 2019
Giovanni Sordo Barolo Monprivato 2019 (Castiglione Falletto): Very elegant aroma with lots of cherries, yellow raisins and delicate violets. Structured in the mouth with extremely fine tannins that guarantee a fine and velvety texture; Game of aromas still contained, floral notes always present, very harmonious, playing with a breathtaking delicacy in depth, fine freshness in the finish. Great cinema.
Francesco Rinaldi and Figli Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata 2019 (La Morra): Bright character with cherries and blood oranges. Fine acidity, violets and notes of wild mushrooms, large and firm tannins, very present but never disturbing. Extremely young but wonderfully concentrated, with a mineral base and great length.
E.Pira & Figli Barolo Cannubi 2019 (Barolo): Large representative of the famous Cannubi town northeast of Barolo. The nose shines with bright red fruits and cherries, then fine raspberries and yellow plums. In the mouth it has a beautiful and stimulating freshness, finely structured with elegant and well-integrated tannins, but still a little impetuous, indicating great potential.
Poderi Luigi Einaudi Barolo Bussia 2019 (Monforte d’Alba): Complex aroma with a fine blend of cherry, raspberry and blackberry, then floral notes, light foliage and hints of tobacco. Lively freshness on the palate, long acidity and fine, ripe tannins, firm, balanced structure and rich in delicacy. Good grip, floral notes on the nose also play wonderfully on the palate, the young tannins still require a fine length.
GD Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole 2019 (Barolo): Floral notes are captivating in the aroma, along with some hay and fine red fruits of cherries and raspberries. Delicate, complex and elegantly constructed, very high quality tannins, silky texture, stimulating acidity, creates tension on the palate. Buoyant, light, with fresh spices, the floral character extends to the fine, mineral length finish.
Mario Gagliasso Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata 2019 (La Morra): Violets and plums, notes of dark fruits, still closed on the nose. In the mouth it is powerful and beautifully spicy, with all its power and stimulating freshness, some forest spice, moss and again lots of black fruit, it has a lot of depth, it takes a long time.
Vietti Barolo Ravera 2019 (Novello): Subtle and spicy aroma with cassis and lavender. Very structured, yet closed and sparse. It shows strength, young and harsh tannins and a lot of spice on the palate, it has pull, focus and tension, but it still doesn’t touch much. Give enough time.
Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Gramolere 2019 (Monforte d’Alba): Fascinating fruit interaction between plums and cherries, as well as a touch of moss and graphite. Very elegant and stimulating, tannins impregnated with juiciness, notes of tar, mineral grip, muscular and dancing, but still closed, lots of potential. Gramolere is located 450 meters above sea level, the limestone subsoil is covered by a light layer of sand.
Castello di Verduno Barolo Monvigliero 2019 (Verduno): Floral, freesia, very fragrant, then raspberry and orange marmalade. Bright and light character, with strength and elegance, finer substance, very high quality tannins, well intertwined, fine melting of fruit, stimulating freshness at the end, long finish.
Poderi e Cantine Oddero Barolo Villero 2019 (Castiglione Falletto): Cherries and sour cherries, some tobacco, sea buckthorn, complex fresh fruit. Elegant, rich in delicacy and very balanced on the palate, mineral notes, independent and noble character, firm and ripe tannins, very stimulating finish.
by Daniela Dejnega