Vietti Cru Barolo

The 2019 Barolo Castiglione is elegant, translucent, and classy. Crushed red berry fruit, orange peel, mint and cinnamon all grace this elegant, wonderfully nuanced Barolo from Vietti. I especially admire the energy here. In many vintages, the Castiglione is easy going and quite accessible, but I see the 2019 needing a few more years to come into its own. I especially admire its focus and cut. 94 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

A release of 5,193 bottles, the Vietti 2017 Barbaresco Masseria opens to a spicy bouquet with a subtle point of white pepper or dried ginger that hovers over the bouquet, albeit briefly. At its core, the wine shows bright berry notes and some plum, although the wine's concentration remains finely etched and elegantly streamlined, overall. I do find the tannins to be a little dry and dusty in this hot-vintage release. Drink 2023-2038, 93 Points – Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

The 2017 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione shows all the signatures of this site, all turned up to the maximum. I am not sure I have ever tasted a Vietti Castiglione with this much heft. Super-ripe dark red fruit, rose petal, mocha, dried herbs and menthol all build in an ample, resonant Barolo. Readers should be prepared to cellar the 2017 for the next handful of years, perhaps longer. A whole range of floral and savoury notes punctuates the explosive finish. 96 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Vietti's mighty 2017 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is extremely polished and sharp, showing the smallest details with microscope-like precision in this release of 3,512 bottles. Tart cherry fruit segues to spice, tarry smoke, licorice and a chiseled sense of minerality that adds ample volume and considerable focus. The wine displays alternating moments of dryness, with layers of cherry sweetness, and all this movement adds to the fluid, ever-changing nature of the bouquet. Vintage after vintage, this wine continues to push the boundaries for Barolo made in Castiglione Falletto. Drink 2024-2048, 96 Points – Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

Producer note: 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-east exposure and a clay-limestone soil. Grapes are gently crushed and fermented for approximately 4 weeks in stainless steel tanks with skin contact. This includes pre- and post- fermentative maceration with the traditional method of submerged cap. Malolactic is done in oak. 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.

The 2017 Barolo Brunate is a powerful, brooding wine. Huge dark fruit, leather spice, menthol and dried herbs all build in a potent Barolo that is enshrouded by tannins. The 2017 is going to need quite a bit of time in the cellar. Today it is very much a brooding powerhouse. Dark wild cherry, liquorice, tar, menthol and spice take shape in the glass, but the 2017 is clearly an infant, and an unruly one at that. 94 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous

A release of 4,981 bottles, the Vietti 2017 Barolo Brunate is beautifully rich and fleshed out, with balanced fruit weight and inner structure. The bouquet reveals tart cherry and cassis, but the Brunate also shows a more delicate side, with crushed flowers, dried violet and polished stone. The power of this cru creeps up on the palate, where you feel the tightness of its fiber and tannins. Following that delicate aromatic preface, this Barolo ultimately delivers a strong, cellar-worthy performance. Drink 2024-2045, 95 Points – Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

The 2017 Barolo Ravera is a powerhouse. My impression is that the 2017 is going to develop into something truly special. It has all the energy that makes this site so distinctive, but with an extra kick of fruit density and a whole range of exotic aromatics that make for a truly drop-dead gorgeous wine. Bright red/purplish fruit, rose petal, chalk and white pepper build into a finish laced with searing intensity. This is such an impressive wine. 96 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous

With fruit from Novello, the Vietti 2017 Barolo Ravera is immediately expressive and articulate. The message it communicates is one of elegance and finesse, and the mouthfeel is especially important to this bottle. A silky, almost glossy sheen sets up aromas of cassis, blueberry, wild cherry and crushed stone. These various elements literally glide or skate together in seamless harmony. This was a release of 7,560 bottles. Drink 2024-2045, 95 Points – Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

Vietti’s 2017 Barolo Lazzarito is absolutely gorgeous. Whatever the challenges of the growing season, they appear to have been no problem here. More than anything else, the Lazzarito impresses with its magnificent depth and stature. Super-ripe red fruit, white pepper, mint, tobacco, cured meat, spice and rose petal open gradually with time in the glass. I would not be in a rush to open bottles any time soon. The Lazzarito has been one of the most improved wines at Vietti for a number of years. The 2017 is so captivating. 95 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous

A release of 8,760 bottles, the Vietti 2017 Barolo Lazzarito draws its fruit from Serralunga d'Alba and reveals a luminous garnet color. Compared to some of the others in this portfolio, the wine takes a little longer to open and express itself. It does, however, unfold to dark cherry, redcurrant, grilled herb, iron ore and candied orange peel. You need to give your glass a few extra vigorous swirls. Those rusty mineral notes build in intensity and drive the wine's medium-long finish. Drink 2024-2045, 94 Points – Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

Here's an exciting new submission from Vietti that takes us to a whole other level (and evolutionary timeframe). A very late release that is held back at the winery, the 2015 Barolo Riserva sources its fruit solely from Castiglione Falletto. In fact, it represents a special section of the best sites that go into the Barolo Castiglione. Some of that fruit was so impressive, I am told, the decision was made to age it longer (with up to 30 months in large oak casks) and give it a Riserva designation. Specifically, the grapes come primarily from Scarrone and Bric del Fiasc. Production is 5,000 bottles. The wine reveals gorgeous elegance, with evolved fruit flavors and melting tannins. The beauty is that you can drink this wine the same day you buy it. Drink 2023-2040. 96 Points. Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate.

Here's a very special treat from Verduno and one of the most exciting new releases we will see from Italy this year. In its inaugural release, the Vietti 2018 Barolo Monvigliero is made with 60% whole cluster fruit, following in time-honored local tradition. The soils of Monvigliero are loose and light in color, producing tight but lean-bodied wines. The use of whole clusters gives the wine more texture, intensity and tannins. With wild berry, rose, dried mint and white licorice and very fine and smooth tannins, this wine is part of a precious 3,207-bottle production. 95 points, drink 2024-2048, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate.

The 2018 Barolo Cerequio is a new wine in this range. Soaring aromatics and bright, red-toned fruit give the Cerequio its effusive personality. Nuanced and deep, with tremendous complexity and tons of character, the Cerequio is dazzling. This is everything a great Barolo from Cerequio should be. In other words: textbook. Moreover, it's one of the best wines of this very uneven vintage. 97 points, Drink 2028 -2048, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

Here's an exciting new submission from Vietti. The 2018 Barolo Cerequio is lovely, sporting a broad and enriched bouquet that paints a panoramic vision of this MGA that straddles the villages of La Morra and Barolo. Despite that wide vision, this wine also excels at showing pinpoint details of wild cherry, crushed stone and black licorice. Cerequio is a wine of latitude and depth. Tight tannins help to stitch it together into a comprehensive whole. Only 4,925 bottles were made in this inaugural release. Congratulations. 96 points, drink 2025-2050, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate.

The 2018 Barolo Ravera is a wine of real depth and vertical structure. As always, the Ravera is a taut, nervy Barolo built on energy more than volume. Readers will have to be patient, as the Ravera is likely to require a number of years to be at its most expressive. Even in the early going, it is vibrant and full of life. Rose petal, chalk, blood orange and white pepper lend striking exotic top notes that are quite suggestive of what the future is going to bring. What a gorgeous Barolo this is. 95+ points, drink 2028 –2048, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

Vietti is one of a handful of estates to bring the Ravera MGA of Novello to the current popularity it enjoys now. Their 2018 Barolo Ravera has a smoky personality with crushed stone and pencil shavings. There is plenty of dark fruit at the back, ripe cherry and blackberry mostly, and the wine is tonic and firm in terms of its structure and tannins. The Ravera is a wine of enormous length and a finely tuned texture. Exactly 7,560 bottles were made. 95 points, drink 2025-2048, Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate.

The 2018 Barolo Lazzarito is tense, vibrant and very much closed in on itself. Searing tannins and Serralunga structure dominate today. Crushed rocks, gravel, red fruit, rose petal, lavender and sage all run though this sculpted, vibrant Serralunga Barolo. What stands out most about the Lazzarito today is that it is stylistically more similar to the other Barolos than it was a few years ago. I expect great things in time here. 94 points, Drink 2028 -2048, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

The 2018 Barolo Lazzarito represents Vietti's interpretation of Serralunga d'Alba, the village often associated with the most powerful wines in the appellation. The Lazzarito completes its secondary fermentation in barrique over three months and is then racked into large oak botti for an additional two years of aging. With some 8,000 bottles produced in this smaller vintage, the wine is very indicative of its geographic origins with tight black fruit, rusty nail, blood orange and earth. Compared to the others in this series, this wine delivers more lasting tannic power. A bit salty and savory now, it is well suited to long aging. 96+ points, Drink 2025-2050, Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate.

The 2018 Barolo Castiglione is bright, fresh and delineated. Crushed red berry fruit, white pepper, chalk, mint and rose petal all run through this gorgeous, sculpted Barolo. The purity of the fruit and overall energy here are captivating. I would cellar the 2018 for at least a few years. It's a gorgeous wine in the making. 92 Points, Drink 2024 -2036, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

Vietti has the enormous advantage of 10 MGA sites at its disposition for blending purposes (and for making single-vineyard wines). This allows them to select the fruit they want to best express any one vintage. The 2018 Barolo Castiglione draws upon those 10 sites (including the recent additions of Mosconi, Ginestra, Bricco Ravera and Briccolina) to make what is ultimately its best-selling wine (with 35,000 bottles released). This classic rendition is tonic and clean with varietal tones of wild berry, rose and rusty nail. 94 points, drink 2024 to 2038, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate.

The 2018 Barolo Castiglione is bright, fresh and delineated. Crushed red berry fruit, white pepper, chalk, mint and rose petal all run through this gorgeous, sculpted Barolo. The purity of the fruit and overall energy here are captivating. I would cellar the 2018 for at least a few years. It's a gorgeous wine in the making. 92 Points, Drink 2024 -2036, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

Vietti has the enormous advantage of 10 MGA sites at its disposition for blending purposes (and for making single-vineyard wines). This allows them to select the fruit they want to best express any one vintage. The 2018 Barolo Castiglione draws upon those 10 sites (including the recent additions of Mosconi, Ginestra, Bricco Ravera and Briccolina) to make what is ultimately its best-selling wine (with 35,000 bottles released). This classic rendition is tonic and clean with varietal tones of wild berry, rose and rusty nail. 94 points, drink 2024 to 2038, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate.

The 2019 Barolo Castiglione is elegant, translucent, and classy. Crushed red berry fruit, orange peel, mint and cinnamon all grace this elegant, wonderfully nuanced Barolo from Vietti. I especially admire the energy here. In many vintages, the Castiglione is easy going and quite accessible, but I see the 2019 needing a few more years to come into its own. I especially admire its focus and cut. 94 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

The 2019 Barolo Castiglione is elegant, translucent, and classy. Crushed red berry fruit, orange peel, mint and cinnamon all grace this elegant, wonderfully nuanced Barolo from Vietti. I especially admire the energy here. In many vintages, the Castiglione is easy going and quite accessible, but I see the 2019 needing a few more years to come into its own. I especially admire its focus and cut. 94 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.