***Orders are subject to allocation***
Confirmation & Payment Mid-August
Delivery End-August
All the 2021 Barolos + Friends
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For the 2nd Time 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà
Rabajà is an MGA that Vietti has a history with and with this first release it comes back into the fold!
The Prologue
Luca & Elena passed the baton to their longstanding vineyard and winery crew and have started a new chapter with Cascina Penna-Currado. Whilst at Vietti they stayed true to their convictions, and, history, acknowledging the wisdom of their family, and elder peers. While their Cru Barolos have brought them international fame, they have worked to protect patches of history for both their family and the region. Listen to Luca share his stories of retaining the Scarrone vineyard planted to Barbera when his father had planned to replant it to Nebbiolo, saving Arneis from being reconciled to a note in a wine book, and, more recently going back to Barbaresco, acquiring a parcel or Rabajà, and this becomes clear.
The drive for constant improvement continues with a parcel of Monvigliero now in the stables, whole bunch techniques are being applied with the help of Jeremy Seysses from Dujac. Meanwhile, Vietti started making Timorasso in 2018. Grapes for this white coming from vineyards located in Monleale in the Alessandria Province.
Tastings at Vietti are getting harder to schedule, as the range keeps expanding. That’s not a bad thing when the wines are this exceptional. Readers will note the introduction of several new bottlings, all of which merit attention. “It was an unusually compact harvest,” winemaker Eugenio Palumbo remarked. “All the main vineyards were picked between September 30 and October 3, except for Ravera, which came in a week later.”
The Rocche di Castiglione, Ravera and Monvigliero and Rabajà are aged entirely in cask for about 30 months. Submerged cap maceration and malolactic fermentation in cask gives these wines a slightly more classic feel than the Cerequio, Brunate and Lazzarito, which see about four months in French oak barrique for the malos. That said, the oak imprint in these three Barolos has come down quite a bit in recent years, narrowing the differences between the two groups of wines. This is especially evident in the Lazzarito, which for many years was the oakiest of the Vietti Barolos. I would be remiss in not highlighting the Barolo Castiglione, a blend of 20 sites that is especially fine in 2021.
As usual, I tasted the 2021s from two sets of bottles, the first opened about two hours prior to my arrival at the winery, and the second opened in front of me. I tend to prefer just-opened bottles, as air is often a shock to wines that have been in bottle for a short time and can therefore have the unintended consequence of closing young wines down.
For the last two decades or so, the style at Vietti has been one that straddles modern and more traditional styles. The wines were never as opulent as those of the modern school, but also never as ethereal or massively tannic as those of the classic school. One of the reasons for that is the choice to bleed the musts to increase fruit density, something that has long been a signature in the mid-palate richness of these Barolos. Vietti has been through some painful chapters in recent years. The sale of the winery to the Krause family and then Luca and Elena Currado’s exit in early 2023 were both dramatic events. In the end, my impression is that these turning points will end up being beneficial for all parties. The Cordero side of the family has their new ventures. It is obvious the Currados felt the pressure to make wine in a style the market expected. Now, they don’t have that constraint. Similarly, Palumbo has the freedom to take Vietti into a new era where I think the wines are going to be even more refined than those of the past. I have to say, I left this tasting extremely energized.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
A Little About Vietti
Back in 2005, I spent some time at Vietti. Their winery sits in the castle atop Castiglione Falletto. It’s walls broken by slit windows for archers to defend the grounds. The escape tunnel leading from the castle to the plains below had been filled in only a few years prior to my visit. Somehow they’ve managed to modernise aspects of the winery carving into the rock without collapsing the ancient buildings surrounding it.
One of my earlier experience of Vietti was at the Australian Wine Research Institutes Advanced Wine Assessment Course. A blind bracket of 9 Nebbiolo’s was presented, Vietti’s Perbacco from 1998 and Brunate from 1996. The Brunate was superb. My notes from the tasting read “Very complex, great harmony, texture, rich, long, very together, perfumed, incredible layers and vibrancy.” The Perbacco excellent, particularly at 1/8th the price. “Great purity, balance, and poise. Supple with an excellent core of fruit and lovely floral notes.”
In many ways, little has changed. Perbacco, typically declassified Barolo, is the wine to crack while you’re waiting for your Barolo to mature!
Vietti intrigues me. Some of the best Barolo I have devoured have come from their winery. Watching the wines evolve over time, both the same vintage and across vintages has been fascinating. Modern technology at times pierced the tradition. Last year a vertical tasting going back to 1982 was fascinating. It again highlighted my growing consensus that the drinking window for good Barolo, from great years, starts at around 10 years and is right in the zone between 15 and 20 years.
Whilst Vietti have always produced more structured wines, the wines have always shown harmony and balance. The difficult 2011 year was perhaps a sign of a maturity and wisdom in the winemaking. They guided the fruit to a state of great harmony and balance in that year, pulling back on the structural elements to produce wines that were drinking superbly in late 2016.
In the last couple of years, I have devoured many more Vietti wines including a 1996 Villero Riserva and 1997 Rocche di Castiglione. Both would be in the top dozen Barolos I’ve every been lucky enough to devour!
A couple of podcasts with the Vietti Crew
Where in the World is Vietti?
The Krause Family bought Vietti a couple of years back, leaving, Luca and the Family in full control of production, hence the name below. The winery based in Castiglione Falletto now has additional vineyard sources in Barolo with Monvigliero in Verduno in the very North of the Barolo region, Rabajà & Roncaglie in the Barbaresco, and, Timorasso plantings in the Colli Tortonesi, the most eastern part of Piedmont. In addition, they have plantings in the Roero and Asti (the Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne is a cracker).
The 2021 Vintage
Having now tasted dozens of 2021 Barolos and Barbarescos they can be summed up as wines of energy and freshness, in general having a smidge less alcohol than usual, fine lines of juicy acid complexed with ripe, sweet and layered tannins. These are classic Nebbiolos with exceptional length and depth of fruit that will in the come years be a demonstration of the entrancing beauty of Nebbiolo.
We’ve seen it in the Langhe Nebbiolos, Barberas and Dolcetto’s from 2021. The Barbarescos and Barolos are living up to their predecessors high standards.
A mild, wet winter created water reserves for what became a very dry season. A long period of fine weather began with spring and lasted throughout the summer, with average temperatures recorded. The harvest of healthy and perfectly ripe berries began mid-September with whites and Dolcetto, followed by Barbera.
The first picks of nebbiolo began in the last days of September, peaking in the second week of October, aided by lower temperatures and a marked diurnal shift from mid-September onwards. In summary, 2021 was a year of remarkable quality, and no doubt in part due to the lower yields
Vintage reports from others to explore
Alessandro Masneghetti’s 2021 Barolo Vintage Report.
Your tongue will thank you!
*We will only receive a few bottles of the Crus. 1st come 1st served. Following allocation you will be invoiced for the total. The wines will be ready to ship early June.
About the Wines
WHITES
Vietti Timorasso 2023
The Timorasso is a blend from Vietti's holdings in three distinct zones within Derthona appellation. Deep, rich and phenolic, the 2023 is a textured, resonant wine. Peach, apricot, chamomile and dried flowers fill out the layers. It's a rich, heady white for the dinner table. Floral and citrus overtones lift the finish.
Vietti Timorasso 'Boscogrosso' 2023
The Vietti 2022 Colli Tortonesi Timorasso Derthona Boscogrosso represents a special selection of fruit from a hillside slope with southwest exposures on sandy soils. This is a generous expression of this promising grape, which has extra textural heft and layering in a hot vintage such as this. It shows a pretty sense of inner balance that could not have been easy to achieve. I tasted this wine months before its commercial release, and it had already started to flesh out. However, this is a white wine that you can easily set aside for another five years of bottle aging.
REDS
Vietti Barolo 2021
Previously labelled as below with ‘Castiglione’ on the label. This wine has had a name change for 2021 now to be labelled simply ‘Barolo’. The wine remains the same.
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo (100%)
Vineyard: The Barolo ‘Castiglione’ is our interpretation of a classic Barolo. The grapes for producing this wine are sourced from various very important small vineyards located all over the Barolo region. Geology: calcareous and clayey soil. The age of the grapevines is between 10 and 45 years old; they are trained in the Guyot trellis system, with an average density of about 4,500 plants per hectare.
Winemaking: All the different single vineyards are vinified and aged separately, each of them with a different winemaking procedure, with the aim to highlight the typical characteristics of their specific “terroir”. Hand-picked in October, the grapes have been destemmed and gently crushed before bringing them into stainless steel tanks for the alcoholic fermentation. They have spent between three to four weeks in contact with their skins. This time includes the pre- and post-fermentation maceration, using the traditional submerged cap method. Malolactic fermentation takes place in oak.
Ageing: The wine has been aged for about 30 months in large oak casks and, a small amount, also in barriques; after this all parcels are carefully blended before bottling. It was bottled without filtration.
Description: Medium-intense ruby red colour. On the nose explosive, elegant, charming and immediate. Aromas of prunes, red and black ripe cherry, blackberry, rose petals and tobacco. On the palate it is classic, quite rich and powerful, with notes of alpine herbs and leather on its finish. The tannins are very well-integrated in the fruit structure of the wine.
Excellent Barolo. The delicacy and restraint here is exceptional. The core of transparent fruit is insane. Depth, purity and such incredible clarity. A soft hand yields incredibly fine, long, even nutty tannin. Showing wonderful expression and generosity in its youth. Plenty more to come with time in bottle. Flowers, blood orange, rhubarb, red fruits. Mid-palate tannin of exceptional quality. A dark broody layer folded in. Impeccable blending. Seriously punching above its weight. Exceptional mouthfeel.
The 2021 Barolo is a superb entry-level Barolo from Vietti. Rich, deep and layered in the glass, the 2021 offers tons of near- and medium-term appeal. The blend of sites is compelling. Dark red-toned fruit, spice, menthol, and liquorice are all beautifully amplified. In 2021, it approaches the level of the crus, and that is saying something.
This bottle marks the end of an era, and all you Barolo Castiglione fans out there are in for some very bad news. The name "Castiglione" is being taking off the bottle, and what we have instead is the Vietti 2021 Barolo. In truth, the name "Castiglione" does appear in very small, small letters at the bottom of the label for old time's sake, but during my discussion during this tasting, I agreed to remove it from the wine's official name in our database. I'm told it will definitely be gone by the next release. Apparently, the estate was on the wrong end of a copyright issue, so it had to go. Winemaking has not changed, and the wine remains a blend of 20-plus MGA sites. There is no particular set formula. The parcels are fermented separately and a final blending decision is made further down the road. You still get the same phenomenal value. This wine offers firm structure, plummy dark fruit flavors and elegantly chalky tannins. The finish is a little dry, and that ending gives the wine a near-term personality.
Vietti Barolo Riserva 2017
Designation: Barolo DOCG
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo 100%
The idea of the Barolo Riserva was born during continuous experimentations carried out both in the vineyard and in the cellar, for the choice of the grapes that will be used for the Barolo Castiglione. Throughout the years, some very high quality plots have started to draw our attention and pushed us to decide to create this wine whose grapes are sourced from different vineyards that are vinified and aged separately. The grapes for this vintage were selected from a vineyard in the municipality of Serralunga at 350 m asl. Calcareous-clayey soil, with eastern exposure. The vines are about 25 years old, cultivated with the Guyot system and a density of 4,500 plants per hectare.
Vineyard: A selection of only a few small vineyard parcels, for the 2015 vintage all located on various sites in the municipality of Castiglione Falletto.
Geology: calcareous marl. The age of the grapevines is between 25 and 45 years, they are trained in the Guyot trellis system, with an average density of about 4,500 plants per hectare.
Winemaking: grapes harvested around the middle of October. For this wine we have partially carried out a whole-grape vinification. The remaining part was destemmed, crushed and conveyed in steel tanks for maceration and alcoholic fermentation. After a few days of cold pre-fermentation maceration, the temperature is raised and fermentation begins; it lasts about 20 days with regular pumping-overs.
Ageing: about 24 months in large oak barrels.
Description: intense ruby red color. On the nose notes of small ripe red fruits with balsamic and citrus hints. On the palate it is medium-bodied, rich, full and elegant. The tannins, typical of the Serralunga aera, are well integrated, with a sweet finish. Its vibrant acidity gives depth to the wine.
Fascinating, looks beautiful on the nose. Intense perfume (bottled at the same time just released later). Showing itself fully resolved. With the grip of the slightly edgy 2017 tannins, that have been expertly handled. Vietti have optimised fully this delicious Riserva from the vineyards Theodore in Serralung, and Scarone & Villero (declassified Villero Riserva that retails for well north of $1,000) from Castiglione Falletto.
Vietti Barbaresco 'Masseria Roncaglie' 2021
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo (100%)
Vineyard: The grapes for this wine are grown in the single vineyard Roncaglie, in Barbaresco. This is one of Barbaresco’s crus with a long reputation for its outstanding quality. The vineyard has a southwest exposure, at an altitude of 240 – 280 meters a.s.l. and its soil is calcareous and clayey with sandy Sant’Agata’s marls. The grapevines, with an average age of 30 years, are trained in the Guyot trellis system with a density of 4,600 grapes per hectare.
Winemaking: Hand-picked, the grapes have been destemmed and gently crushed before bringing them into stainless steel tanks for the alcoholic fermentation. They have spent about three weeks in contact with their skins. This time includes the pre- and post-fermentation maceration, using the traditional submerged cap method. Malolactic fermentation takes place in wood.
Ageing: The wine has been aged for 30 months in large oak casks and, only a small amount, in barriques. It was bottled without filtration.
Description: Medium-intense ruby red colour with light garnet hues. Quite intense nose with aromas of ripe red fruit (cherry), red and black berries in combination with refined floral (rose, mint) and mineral nuances. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, well-balanced. The tannins, ripe soft and silky, are well integrated in the wine’s fruit structure. The wine shows overall an incredible finesse and great complexity. Long final with good freshness.
Serious gear. The depth and length here is insane. An important Barbaresco with mineral, slatey, tannin structure that flows and cleanses. Serious quality of tannin here. Dark and brooding. Yet the generosity is immediate, a prettiness and sophistication with power. Wonderful delicacy & harmony. Incredibly complex. Incredible persistence.
The 2021 Barbaresco Roncaglie is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Blood orange, mint, cinnamon and white pepper open, but only with great reluctance. Brisk acids and pulsating tannins need time to soften. There's fabulous density lurking beneath. This is a gorgeous wine in the making.
Past vintages of this wine were called Roncaglie Masseria, but the word Masseria has been removed. The Vietti 2021 Barbaresco Roncaglie draws its fruit from inclined vineyards that produce fruit with finesse and elegance. This pretty wine opens to a note of fragrant flower or heritage rose that accompanies you over a long, silky close. In a good vintage like 2021, vintners could push skin macerations a little longer. This wine saw 25 days on the skins compared to 22 days in the 2022 vintage. Vietti recently purchased land in Rabajà, a site that produces profound wines, and this plot in Roncaglie has a greater presence of sand in its soils, creating more floral and delicate expressions instead. This matures in large oak casks for 24 months.
Vietti Barbaresco Riserva 'Rabajà' 2020
Designation: Barbaresco D.O.C.G.
Grape variety: Nebbiolo 100%
The grapes are sourced from the single MGA vineyard “Rabajà” in the municipality of Barbaresco. The 2019 is the first vintage of this Riserva. It is also a return for Vietti, who was already making Rabajà in the 80s. The soil is calcareous-clayey, with south/south-west exposure and an altitude of about 235-315m asl. The average age of the Guyot-cultivated vines is about 51 years and there is a density of approximately 5,200 plants per hectare.
Winemaking: grapes harvested by hand. The alcoholic fermentation lasts about 3 weeks in steel tanks in contact with the skins, with regular pumping overs. This times includes the preand post-fermentation maceration which takes place with the use of the traditional submerged cap method. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in wood.
Ageing: about 30 months in oak barrels.
Description: intense garnet red color. The nose is rich and delicate. Floral scents such as rosehips and violets, ripe fruits like cherry and sour cherry. On the palate it is fresh and enveloping. The tannins are ripe, soft, silky and well-integrated, donating good structure and great elegance. Very well balanced and refined overall, with a long persistent finish
This plot was purchased in 2019, and this is therefore the second vintage made. The Vietti 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is spicy, juicy and accessible with some sweetness on the tannins. The wine sports Mediterranean warmth from within with black cherry, spice and grilled rosemary. There is a saline-mineral touch as well that adds elegance, but all said in done, this wine is more immediate in delivery. The 2020 vintage is bookended by two superior vintages, the 2019 and 2021. Only 2,152 bottles were made.
Vietti Barolo 'Monvigliero' 2021
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo (100%)
Vineyard: The Monvigliero vineyard has not only the reputation for being the most important Cru in the village of Verduno, but also to be among the most prestigious ones in the whole Barolo region. The Monvigliero hill is exposed towards south–southeast; the parcel where Vietti grows the grapes for this wines is at about 320 meters a.s.l.. The soil is calcareous and clayey with Sant’Agata’s marls. The grapevines have an average age of about 50 years and are planted, using the Guyot trellis system, at a density of 4,500 plants per hectare. 2018 is the first vintage of the Cru Monvigliero produced by Vietti.
Winemaking: Hand-picked, the grapes have been only partly destemmed (40%) and gently crushed before bringing them into stainless steel tanks for the maceration and alcoholic fermentation. 60% of the grapes were added to be vinified as “whole-cluster” with their stems. After five days of cold maceration, the alcoholic fermentation had started with increasing the temperature. The total time of contact with the skins was about four weeks, which included the pre- and post-fermentation maceration using the traditional submerged cap method. Malolactic fermentation took place in oak.
Ageing: The wine has been aged for 24 months in large oak casks. It was bottled without filtration.
Description: Ruby red colour. Very delicate though intense aroma. Very elegant on the palate with hints of strawberry, cherry and rose. The tannins are persistent, round and silky, perfectly in harmony with the fruit structure of the wine. Long lingering aftertaste with fresh spicy notes.
The 2021 Barolo Monvigliero is another step forward for Vietti. Aromatic and lifted, the 2021 is all class. The stems (60%) are evident but not as strong of a marker as they were in the first years. Stylistically, the Monvigliero is closest to the Ravera, with which it shares a taut, mineral-driven personality.
This is the baby in the bunch, representing one of the newest additions to the Vietti portfolio, with the first vintage produced in 2018. The learning curve in Monvigliero is always steep, or so most winemakers tell me, because very few can go to 100% whole-cluster fermentation. Indeed, the 2021 Barolo Monvigliero sees 60% whole clusters. The Vietti team is experienced, and this wine is pristine. This vintage was harvested on September 30th, and maceration was a bit shorter, at 20 days. The wine shows a delicate film of pink salt with garden herbs, lemon leaves and spring flowers. It is a wine of extreme elegance, but I find that this vintage is especially Mediterranean in character.
Vietti Barolo 'Cerquio' 2021
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo (100%)
Vineyard: The grapes to produce this wine are sourced from the historical Cru vineyard Cerequio, one of the most renowned MGAs in the Barolo area. Vietti’s parcel of about 1 hectare size is located in the Barolo municipality. It is facing south, at an altitude of approximately 350 meters a.s.l.. The average age of the grapevines is 35 years, and they are planted, with a density of 4,600 vines per hectare, trained in the Guyot trellis system. The soil is calcareous and clayey with Sant’Agata’s marls. 2018 is the first vintage of the Cru Cerequio produced by Vietti.
Winemaking: Hand-picked, the grapes have been destemmed and gently crushed before bringing them into stainless steel tanks for the alcoholic fermentation. They have spent about three weeks in contact with their skins. This time includes the pre- and post-fermentation maceration, using the traditional submerged cap method. Malolactic fermentation takes place in wood.
Ageing: The wine has been aged for 32 months in large oak casks and in barriques. It was bottled without filtration.
Description: Intense ruby red colour. Generous nose with aromas of ripe red berry fruit with spicy overtones. Intense on the palate, quite rich though very elegant and well-balanced. The tannins are present, but very well integrated in the fruit structure of the wine. Long aftertaste with good freshness. A wine with extraordinary finesse and balance.
Much more impact at the front end of the palate with a pleasing build in grip compared to the plush Brunate. Linear, long and fine. Lovely flowers. Long, even fruit of significant depth, with a lick of leather throwing in tar/slate/licorice complexity. Opening the class to reveal more opulence. Acid tannin complex is exceptional. Superb structure. The perfume is insane. Wow, as this builds in the glass, it builds in class, just opening beautifully. A lot of power.
The 2021 Barolo Cerequio marries elegance and power in the way only Nebbiolo can. Bright acids and strong floral inflections run through this mid-weight yet dense, layered wine. All the elements are deftly woven together. This nuanced, finely sketched Barolo has always been compelling, as it is again today.
Choices, choices, choices... The Vietti 2021 Barolo Cerequio is another classic from this over-performing estate. This parcel was purchased in 2018 from the Chiarlo family (the Krause family acquired Vietti in 2016), and although the location is La Morra, the site behaves more like Sarmassa in Barolo, creating wines with a firm, tight entry and good structure. You could say that it has a nervous character now in its adolescence, and of course we expect it to smooth out and find harmony with time. Fruit was harvested on September 30th, and the wine sees 27 days of extended skin maceration. Compared to Brunate, which is always darker in character, the Cerequio is lighter and brighter with pretty primary fruit.
Vietti Barolo 'Rocche di Castiglione' 2021
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo (100%)
Vineyard: The grapes to produce this wine are grown in one of the historic vineyards of the Barolo area, Rocche in Castiglione Falletto, with roughly 4,600 plants per hectare. The grapevines were planted in three different moments – 1940, 1950 and 1968 – and are trained with the Guyot trellis system. The vineyard has a southeastern exposure and a grey-blueish marly composition.
Winemaking: Hand-picked, the grapes have been destemmed and gently crushed before bringing them into stainless steel tanks for the alcoholic fermentation. They have spent about four weeks in contact with the skins. This time includes the pre- and post-fermentation maceration, using the traditional submerged cap method. Malolactic fermentation takes place in wood.
Ageing: The wine has been aged for 30 months in large oak casks. It was bottled without filtration.
Description: Medium-intense ruby red colour. Complex and elegant nose. Notes of ripe red fruit (cherry, red berries) floral (rose petals with a hint of chamomile) and mineral nuances. Good intensity on the palate, fresh, well- balanced, silky, mouth-filling and rounded. The tannins are well-integrated. Long and persistent finish with good freshness.
The 2021 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is elegant, floral and lifted. I also find it a bit reticent in the early going. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, white pepper and spice open with some coaxing. I would not dream of touching a bottle anytime soon, the wine's considerable sensuality notwithstanding.
This is a serious beauty that reminds us of the brilliant work underway at this leading estate. Yes, ownership has changed over recent years, but this wine remains "Rocche-solid." From an epic vintage, the Vietti 2021 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a classic with those elegant mineral notes of glacial till and flake salt followed by carefully ripened fruit, blackcurrant and a finely tuned floral note of fragrant tea leaf that hits the high notes. The effect is ethereal but also precise. Fruit comes from two parcels, one planted in 1958 and the other in 1969, and the blend is half of each fermented together. Fruit was picked on October 1st, and the wine saw 24 days on the skins. The first year this wine was produced is 1961. The Rocche di Castiglione site has 35% sand with marl soils that continue to evolve, kicking out more new sand. Only 3,728 bottles exist, and that's the bad news.
Vietti Barolo 'Lazzarito' 2021
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo (100%)
Vineyard: The grapes for this wine are sourced from the single vineyard Lazzarito in Serralunga d’Alba. Lazzarito is a wonderful natural amphitheater facing southwest, at an altitude of 260 – 390 meters a.s.l., with a clayey and calcareous soil. Vietti’s property in this vineyard stretches for about 2 hectares. The grapevines have an average age of 40 years. They are planted using the Guyot trellis system with about 4,500 plants per hectare.
Winemaking: Hand-picked, the grapes have been destemmed and gently crushed before bringing them into stainless steel tanks for the alcoholic fermentation. They have spent about four weeks in contact with their skins. This time includes the pre- and post-fermentation maceration, using the traditional submerged cap method. Malolactic fermentation takes place in wood.
Ageing: The wine has been aged for 30 months in large oak casks and, only a small amount, in barriques. It was bottled without filtration.
Description: Deep ruby red colour with garnet nuances. Fascinating and deep on the nose. Notes of hay, cut grass, tobacco, white pepper and a hint of mint. Robust, muscular on the palate, with a taut and mineral finish. The tannins are typical of Serralunga: angular, austere and very deep. Appealing long lingering sweetness on the finish.
Stunning immediate red fruits, wicked acid and epic long, even structured tannin. Serralunga to a T. Pun intended, for it has fine black tea aroma and flavours. Insane depth & a long, even core of fruit. Deceptive richness, drive & purity. Savoury. Impressive wine that will take time to reveal its true self. Recommend minimum 7 years in bottle. Such power with finesse.
The 2021 Barolo Lazzarito is a potent, deep wine. Not surprisingly, it is quite closed in the very early going. Even so, all the natural power and intensity of Serralunga is very much on display. It is the most backward and forbiddingly tannic of these Barolos today. Then again, that is Serralunga. Hints of gravel, incense and charcoal peek out on the finish.
I tasted a wide range of wines on my most recent visit to Vietti. Starting with the 2020 Barolos, I tasted every wine from a just-opened bottle and a bottle that had been double-decanted two hours prior to my arrival. Aeration can be a tricky thing with young, just-bottled wines. Sometimes, air can help
Fruit for this wine comes from a three-hectare parcel in Serralunga d'Alba near the village, with south and southwestern exposures in a small amphitheater. The soils in this area are older and thus more evolved, but they always create wines of strong character. The Vietti 2021 Barolo Lazzarito is easy to identify thanks to its salty mineral finish, which is almost metallic in taste, and its bright hints of sweet rosemary and wild herb. These delicate high notes form pretty framing to a dark core of elegant fruit. The estate counts five vineyards in Serralunga d'Alba, but Lazzarito is the only MGA bottling.
Vietti Barolo 'Ravera' 2021
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo (100%)
Vineyard: The grapes for this wine are grown in the single vineyard site Ravera in Novello. The roughly 3 hectares owned by Vietti are located on a wonderful hillside with a southwestern exposure. The soil is calcareous clayey with Sant’Agata’s marls. The grapevines have an average age 30 years with the oldest part planted in 1935. Using the Guyot trellis system, they are grown with a density of about 4,500 plants per hectare.
Winemaking: Hand-picked, the grapes have been destemmed and gently crushed before bringing them into stainless steel tanks for the alcoholic fermentation. They have spent between four to five weeks in contact with the skins. This time includes the pre- and post-fermentation maceration, using the traditional submerged cap method. Slow malolactic fermentation in large casks until late spring. The wine spends over a year on its fine lees without racking.
Ageing: The wine has been aged for 32 months in large oak casks. It was bottled without filtration.
Description: Intense garnet red colour. A rather austere nose in the beginning, paired with complex floral and fruity notes that open in the glass after a little while. Hints of red fruit, mineral and spicy nuances. Quite intense on the palate, with ripe red fruit sensations. Firm, compact tannins make this a very classic wine. Vibrant, vertical acidity. Extremely elegant and refined. Long lasting aftertaste.
Pretty, red fruit. Beautifully developed. Impeccable élévage. An underlying tar/leather/slate notes layering in intriguing complexity. The Vietti crew have built quite a lot of structure into this Ravera of Novello. A wonderful example of Ravera making for a very complex iteration. Lovely generosity. Fine plush Neb tannin. Divine roses. Impressive! Bud-break & harvest is around 2-3 weeks later than most of the other Communes for Vietti.
The 2021 Barolo Ravera is one of the many standouts in this range from Vietti. Blood orange, chalk, mint, white pepper and slate all infuse the palate with notable persistence. Intensely saline and mineral, the Ravera is not an easy wine, as it is focused and taut rather than immediate. It's a Barolo that demands a lot from the taster, but it pays that attention back in spades.
You could argue that this is the wine with the fasting growing quality trajectory because this vineyard site is one of those rare places in the appellation that appears to improve despite (or more likely because of) a changing climate. Ravera enjoys an open panorama (at 400 to 440 meters in elevation) that extends to the snow-capped Alps and benefits from cooler air currents, coupled with an amazing quality of light that you notice with the naked eye. The 2021 Barolo Ravera saw its fruit harvested later than the other wines, on October 11th, and continued with a classic Vietti-style fermentation with 20-plus days of skin contact. Simply put, what Ravera offers is complexity (and strength) with hints of bergamot, citrus, herbs, mineral and salt over a tightly concentrated mouthfeel. The quality of the tannins and the freshness of this 2021 are impressive, and that citrusy note continues with tangerine skin and kumquat.
Vietti Barolo 'Brunate' 2021
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo (100%)
Vineyard: The grapes are grown in the historical Cru vineyard Brunate, which is located in La Morra, south-facing towards the town of Barolo, at an altitude of 300 to 400 meters a.s.l.. The average age of the grapevines is 55 years, and they are planted with a density of 4,600 vines per hectare, in the Guyot trellis system. The soil is calcareous and clayey (Sant’Agata’s marls).
Winemaking: Hand-picked, the grapes have been destemmed and gently crushed before bringing them into stainless steel tanks for the alcoholic fermentation. They have spent about three weeks in contact with their skins. This time includes the pre- and post-fermentation maceration, using the traditional submerged cap method. Malolactic fermentation takes place in wood.
Ageing: The wine has been aged for 32 months in large oak casks and in barriques. It was bottled without filtration.
Description: Intense ruby red colour. Quite explosive, powerful and generous nose. Fruity notes of prunes, grapefruit and citron, with spicy overtones. In the glass it gradually shows violet aromas, very typical of the Brunate vineyard. Full and intense on the palate. The tannins are soft, round and velvety, distinctive of the La Morra terroir. Long finish with sensation of licorice roots.
Cracking Brunate! A very complete wine. Tannins are so refined, even through the front and middle palate. Round chocolateyt mid-palate that tapers a little. Incredibly elegant, again a poised acid-tannin complex with ripe, layered, silky tannin. Actually builds post swallow. Perfectly ripe and balanced. Incredible length. The core of fruit is insane. Oppulent & exceptional.
The 2021 Barolo Brunate is especially fine this year. Rich, deep and quite potent, the Brunate is so expressive. It exudes textural density to match its decidedly virile personality. Strong spice and balsamic notes weave throughout a core of sombre, dark-fleshed
fruit.
Brunate is also one of my favorite wines from Vietti (and, boy, is it hard to choose favorites) thanks to that playful hint of fresh mint that I usually find, especially in the best vintages. You certainly get it in the 2021 Barolo Brunate, and although I'm not sure how long it will last as the wine evolves, my experience suggests it only gets stronger and more beautiful in time. Indeed, this vintage (with 23 days of skin maceration) shows exceptional depth and precision with aromas that go beyond the mint, spanning instead to grilled rosemary and Darjeeling tea. The wine shows excellent textural support and broad shoulders, followed by tannins that are both sweet and chalky. It shows profound generosity and depth. Brunate always has an intense, dark soul.
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