Vietti, Barolo + Friends PRE-ARRIVAL OFFER – 2014 Vintage


Hail decimate many of the great vineyards including Brunate. Those who selected carefully made classic Nebbiolo. 2014 Perbacco is a great barometer of this!

Today we offer the 2014 Perbacco, Casitglione (375ml + Mags available), Lazzarito, Ravera, and, Barbaresco Masseria. In addition to Mags of 2015 Perbacco, poissibly the best value party Neb, and the 2016 Barbera d’Alba Vigne Vecchia Scarrone. The 2014 Perbacco is available immediately, the rest are due late April, the Scarrone in September.

This is an absolutely phenominal set of wines from Vietti. The 2014s are every bit as magnificent as they have always been from barrel. The dual flagships Rocche di Castiglione and Ravera are superb, while the entry-level Barolo Castiglione does just as good a job of conveying the personality of the year. Sadly, Brunate sustained 60% hail damage. As a result, Luca Currado opted not to bottle a Barolo Brunate. Yields are down about 25% across the board, so readers who are interested in these Barolos should snap them up before they disappear. Galloni

The 2016 Scaronne is a great way to test the quality of a vintage which is reportedly very special in advance of the release of the Baroli.

Pricing of the pre-arrival wines will increase by ~10% post arrival.

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 andvibrancy.” 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, they have never shifted to the overt new oak regimes of the likes of Clerico. 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.

This wisdom seems to have continued to the following years. The 2014 base Langhe Nebbiolo, Perbacco, is an excellent wine, upon opening it required around 3 days to deliver it’s full potential. The 2014 Barolo Castiglione and Cru’s are receiving critical acclaim.

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 2014 Vintage

Despite being one of the most complex vintages to manage in the vineyard, the favourable end to 2014 resulted in excellent quality. A mild winter and spring saw and early start to the season. Summer began with average temperatures, however rainfall was above average with some really significant rain events in late July leading to increased risk of fungal attacks. September and October were extremely positive with clear skies and good diurnal temperature shifts. Dolcetto was the most affected in terms of low yields and whilst less structured than 2013 show enticing aromatics and intense colour. Generally speaking the 2014 barberas show greater acid balance, firmer tannic structures and longer cellaring potential. Nebbiolo in 2014 shows great potential, with the best results coming from the most carefully managed vineyards with the sunniest aspects and well-drained soils. Patchy hail storms in Barolo did create some issues, whilst Barbaresco faired beautifully with a third of Barolo’s rainfall and no hail! The nebbiolo-based 2014s are elegant with excellent bouquets packed with minerally notes, and superb acids making them long-lasting. The 2014 vintage confirms how fundamental the end of the season is in affecting the final quality of the grapes and wines.

2014 Baroo: Surprise, Surprise – Vietti (FEB 2018) By Antonio Galloni

This is an absolutely phenominal set of wines from Vietti. The 2014s are every bit as magnificent as they have always been from barrel. The dual flagships Rocche di Castiglione and Ravera are superb, while the entry-level Barolo Castiglione does just as good a job of conveying the personality of the year. Sadly, Brunate sustained 60% hail damage. As a result, Luca Currado opted not to bottle a Barolo Brunate. Yields are down about 25% across the board, so readers who are interested in these Barolos should snap them up before they disappear.

2015 began with high levels of snow providing good water reserves. Combined with mild spring temperatures and various rain falls, bud break and flowering were early, followed by an excellent fruit set. From the second half of June throughout July, there was no rain and temperatures stabilized to above-average maximums. Fortunately the vineyards were not stressed thanks to the plentiful water reserves. In terms of quantity, production was average allowing for careful, targeted green harvesting with special care taken to ensure foliage was managed to provide good protection for the clusters. There was no disease pressure so preventative measures were not required. The white varieties were harvested between the end of August and mid-September and the excellent sugars were matched by wonderful acidity. The Dolcetto harvest began around the second week in September and the wines were aromatic, softer and deeply coloured. Barbera is the variety which perhaps most benefited from the 2015 season with the usually high acidity tempered by excellent ripe tannins, dense colours and richly flavoured fruit and body. Nebbiolo ripened perfectly, though slightly earlier than the last few years. The excellent quality of the tannins balanced by perfect acidity will certainly ensure elegant, long-lasting wines with good structure.

The 2016 Vintage

The 2016 vintage was one of the longest-lasting in recent years. Early winter was dry and mild, however from the end of February through March, the temperatures dropped with plenty of rain, providing good reserves of water. The “late” cold delayed the vegetative cycle, and spring proper also started wet with average daytime temperatures but low overnight minimums, helping retain good health. This phenological delay continued until the end of the summer, which began slowly but extended until the end of September. The white harvest ran from September 5th to 20th, with the wines showing excellent aroma and good acidity due to cooler summer temperature peaks. The red harvest began immediately after with Dolcetto, followed without a break to the middle of October with the Barbera and Nebbiolo. 2016 was a very good vintage for Dolcetto, but even more so for Barbera, which acquired excellent levels of sugar over a long period of stable conditions, while maintaining the varietal’s typically good acidity. Nebbiolo also achieved good phenological ripeness, a direct result of the perfect warm, sunny conditions of the second half of September. Whilst it is still early, the 2016 vintage wines display excellent balance, generous aromatics and great structure, and in some cases lower alcohols, compared to 2015. 2016 promises to be a vintage which will be talked about for a long time to come!

Your tongue will thank you!

*We will only receive a few bottles of the Crus. 1st come 1st served. Following allocation, in late June you will be invoiced for 50% of the total. The balance payable when the wines are ready to ship.


About the Wines


Vietti Barbera d’Alba Scarrone Vigna Vecchia 2016

Anyone who has spoken with Luca, will know of his passion for Barbera, when you look at the greats, Cavallotto, Voerzio, and, Vietti, they all make superb Barbera of real personality. They have maintained plantings in the best sites, rather than ripping them out to plant Nebbiolo. Vietti Vigna Vecchia (old vine) Scarrone is right in the heart of Castiglione Falletto. The 90year old vines, low yields, and, care make for a delicious Barbera!

A bottle of 2013 I had to start a Vietti Barolo session including Riservas from 1997 and 1982 was one of the wines of the night.

Vietti Perbacco Langhe Nebbiolo 2014

We’ve got to remember the pedigree of this wine. The fruit comes from parcels in Bricco Boschis, Liste, Brunella, Crocetta, Pernanno, Fossati, Ravera in Novello and Scarrone. All stunning vineyards. That’s what makes it such a good benchmark for the Barolo’s from the same year. Looks like we’re in for another great crop of Vietti Cru’s in the 2014’s! All of the fruit is classified as Barolo DOCG, it’s final destination is only determined following malolactic fermentation.

Designation: Langhe DOC Nebbiolo

Grapes: 100% Nebbiolo

Winemaking: Vinification of grapes coming from different vineyards of Nebbiolo all included in the Barolo area. Alcoholic fermentation lasts around 3/4 weeks with a temperature of 28°/32° C. Each parcel is processed and aged separately until when they select which ones will be included for the blend of Perbacco or the ones that will keep ageing to become Barolo Castiglione.

Ageing: Total ageing is approximately 2 years. After malolactic done both in barrique and big Slavonian casks, the wine keeps ageing in oak for 2 years. Blending in steel tanks to follow prior bottling.

Description: Offers up generous fruit along with menthol, spices and hard candy, showing notable intensity while retaining an essentially mid-weight style. Strong, intense and powerful when young, complex and elegant with the ageing.

The 2014 Perbacco, Vietti's Langhe Nebbiolo is absolutely delicious, a more classical rendition of Nebbiolo than the bold 2013. I cracked one side by side with a 2013, the 2014 having the elegance and restraint over the 2013’s more overt obivious fruit. The 2013’s extra year in bottle helping it reveal itself earlier. After a few hours in the glass, the 2014 popped, beautiful flowers, lovely fine long tannins with a core of fruit to match.

Paul Kaan - Chief Wine Hacker, Wine Decoded

91 Points

The 2014 Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco is an easy-drinking but sophisticated Nebbiolo that could pass for a base Barolo.

Monica Larner

Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2014

With a challenging year, great wineries show their skill and unwavering desire to make incredible wine. In areas like Burgundy and Barolo we often see great vineyards declassified, making the next level down perhaps better than in the great years! Hint, there is not Brunate from Vietti in 2014!

Grapes: 100% Nebbiolo

Winemaking: The grapes are selected from small vineyards spread in the Barolo region. The vines are between 7 and 40 years old, planted in a clay-limestone soil. Plants are trained with guyot method, with an average density of roughly 4500 units per hectare. All the different crus are vinified and aged separately with slightly different processes to underline the singular characteristics of each parcel and terroir. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel with daily cap submersion for extraction of flavour and colour.

Aging: The wine is aged for roughly 30 months in oak and barriques; all parcels are then carefully blended before bottling. “Beautiful

93 Points

The 2014 Barolo Castiglione is superb. Nuanced, layered and sculpted in the glass, the Castiglione is a wine of real precision and class. In 2014, the Castiglione is medium in body and gracious, with tons of persistence. Hints of lavender, rose petal and red berry fruit lead into the crystalline, translucent finish. Time in the glass brings out this gorgeous Barolo's more refined side. Once again, the Castiglione is a real overachiever.

Antonio Galloni

92 Points

Licorice, nuts and chocolate dominate the rich bouquet of this sophisticated Barolo. The dense and velvety tannins give the long finish tremendous power! Better from 2020.

James Suckling

Vietti Barolo 'Rocche di Castiglione' 2014

Grapes: 100% Nebbiolo

Winemaking: The grapes are selected from the single vineyard Rocche in Castiglione Falletto, planted with roughly 4600 units per hectare. The vines were planted in three different moments, 1940, 1950 and 1968. The vineyard has a south-west exposure and a clay-limestone soil. Grapes are gently crushed and fermented for approximately 4 weeks in stainless steel tank with skin contact. This time includes pre- and post- fermentative maceration with the traditional method of submerged cap. Malolactic is done in oak.

Ageing: The wine is aged for approximately 30 months in Slovenian oak casks.

Description: Ruby red in color. Complex and full-bodied with intense aromas of dried roses, licorice, spice and truffles. Elegant with strong, yet balanced and silky tannins; long and persistent finish.

98 Points

Vietti's 2014 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is shaping up to be a modern-day classic. Piercing, intense and austere in the best sense of the word, the Rocche is a wine of laser-like focus that will leave Barolo lovers weak in the knees. Candied cherry, pomegranate, kirsch, rose petal and violet overtones give the 2014 its inner sweetness and captivating perfume. In a word: stunning. Don't miss it.

Antonio Galloni

95 Points

Really shows what was possible in this difficult vintage! What a complex nose with hazelnuts, chocolate, flowers and herbs in profusion. Hints of licorice and candied citrus peel, too. Quite a major structure with bold, dry tannins, which are already very well-integrated. A really long finish. Better after 2020.

James Suckling

Vietti Barolo 'Lazzarito' 2014

Grapes: 100% Nebbiolo

Winemaking: The grapes are selected from the single vineyard Lazzarito in Serralunga d’Alba, planted with roughly 4500 units per hectare. The vines have an average age of 35 years. The 2-hectare vineyard has a southwest exposure and a clay-limestone soil. Grapes are gently crushed and fermented for 4 weeks in stainless steel tank with skin contact. This time includes pre- and post- fermentative maceration with the traditional method of submerged cap. Malolactic is done in oak.

Ageing: The wine is aged for approximately 30 months between French oak barriques and Slovenian oak casks

Description: Deep garnet red in color. Richly rounded with a robust and velvety texture; intensely aromatic with hints of figs and plums. Elegant with soft and sweet tannins, followed by a long finish.

96 Points

The gorgeous 2014 Barolo Lazzarito is the most surprising wine in the range....Deep, dark and intense, with all of the energy of the year very much on display, the Lazzarito is super-expressive and shows a more red-toned profile than is the norm. Kirsch, mint, rose petal and chalk all develop in the glass, while beams of tannin and salinity give the wine shape and persistence. The weight and depth of Serralunga come through on the midpalate and into the finish....I especially like the wine's aromatic presence.

Antonio Galloni

93 Points

Great freshness and vitality here in terms of 2014 Barolos! Lovely aromas of nuts and floras with just a hint of chocolate as well. Ripe and suave with an elegant tannin structure, making the long finish very satisfying. Drink or hold.

James Suckling

Vietti Barolo 'Ravera' 2014

Grapes: 100% Nebbiolo

Winemaking: The grapes are selected from the single vineyard Ravera in Novello, planted with roughly 4500 units per hectare. The vines have an average age of 25 years with the oldest part planted in 1935. The roughly 3-hectare vineyard has a south-west exposure and a clay-limestone soil. Grapes are gently crushed and fermented for 4 weeks in stainless steel tank with skin contact. This time includes pre- and post- fermentative maceration with the traditional method of submerged cap. Malolactic is done in casks that will continue until late spring. The wine spends over a year on fine lees without racking it.

Ageing: The wine is aged for about 30 months in Slovenian oak casks.

Description: Intense garnet red colour. Very classic and traditional with a robust structure and intense tannins. Bouquet takes a little time to show itself with slight hints of yeast. It opens slowly in the glass touch of spice and menthol. In the final, the powerful structure and concentration soften the tannins potential.

97 Points

Another highlight in this range, the 2014 Barolo Ravera opens with the most exquisite, captivating aromatics imaginable. It will be interesting to see if it develops a bit more midpalate depth and pliancy. Today, the 2014 is a bit austere, even within the context of the year and this site, where the wines are a bit on the nervous side to start. I have seen Vietti Raveras blossom into spectacular wines and imagine that will be the case here as well.

Antonio Galloni

93 Points

Licorice, nuts and chocolate dominate the rich bouquet of this sophisticated Barolo. The dense and velvety tannins give the long finish tremendous power! Better from 2020.

James Suckling

Grapes: 100% Nebbiolo

Winemaking: The grapes are harvested from vineyard located Treiso. The vineyard has a southern exposure with a mix of clay and limestone in the soil. During the alcoholic fermentation, the must will remain for approximately 3 weeks in open-top stainless-steel tanks. Daily délestages, punching downs and open-air pumping overs are actioned daily. The malolactic is done in barriques.

Aging: Big oak vats, barriques and steel tanks for a total of 2 and half years.

Description: garnet ruby colour, slight garnet hue, with intense aromas of ripe cherries with intricate complexities of minerals, tea leaves and rose petals. With firm, ripe tannins, crisp acidity and feminine and round structure, this Barbaresco shows incredible finesse with excellent balance, integration and a long, lingering finish.

94+ Points

The 2014 Barbaresco Masseria is superb. Dark, ample and structured, the 2014 captures all the pedigree of this important Barbaresco vintage. As always, the Vietti's Masseria is a wine that has Barolo-like structure and depth, partly because it is vinified and aged pretty much along the same lines as those wines. I expect the 2014 will require at least a handful of years to shed some tannin and start showing some of its inherent inner sweetness. There is so much to look forward to. Bright acids and a firm spine of tannin give the red-toned fruit energy and vivacity throughout.


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This offer has expired, wines are subject to availability. We'll do our best to satisfy your tastebuds.

Vietti, Barolo, PRE-ARRIVAL OFFER – 2013 Vintage

  • $100ea in any 3+
    Price: $ 110.00
  • Available for immediate delivery. $47 for 6 or more.
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    Price: $ 95.00
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    Price: $ 130.00
  • $65 for any 3+
    Price: $ 70.00
  • $240ea in any 2+
    Price: $ 260.00
  • Post arrival price $440.
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