Aldo Conterno, Romirasco, Barolo 2006
One of the most famous Barolo crus from the lightest soil. Classically structured but atypically lighter-styled. Red berries, violets, roses and lots of silk. 18.5pts/20 (95/100pts)
Price £153.99 Bennetts, Bordeaux Index, Carruthers & Kent, Fortnum & Mason, Swig
Drink 2018–2045
Alc 14.5%
Ceretto, Bricco Rocche, Barolo 2006
Arguably, Castiglione Falletto is home to the most balanced Barolos of all. Archetypal, suave and smooth. Richly flavoured red cherry and minerals, tobacco and spices. 18.5pts/20 (95/100pts)
Price £62 Ehrmanns, Fine & Rare
Drink 2018–2025
Alc 14%
Arguably, Castiglione Falletto is home to the most balanced Barolos of all. Archetypal, suave and smooth. Richly flavoured red cherry and minerals, tobacco and spices. 18.5pts/20 (95/100pts)
Price £62 Ehrmanns, Fine & Rare
Drink 2018–2025
Alc 14%
Bruno Giacosa, Asili, Barbaresco 2005
Italy’s best winemaker? Barbaresco’s best vineyard? A magical wine. A smorgasbord of sour red cherries, roses, minerals and tar. 18.25pts/20 (94/100pts)
Price £98.28 Ancient & Modern, Armit, Fine & Rare, Justerini & Brooks
Drink 2015–2035
Alc 14.5%
Italy’s best winemaker? Barbaresco’s best vineyard? A magical wine. A smorgasbord of sour red cherries, roses, minerals and tar. 18.25pts/20 (94/100pts)
Price £98.28 Ancient & Modern, Armit, Fine & Rare, Justerini & Brooks
Drink 2015–2035
Alc 14.5%
Mario Marengo, Brunate, Barolo 2006
Brunate makes the most intensely perfumed and balanced Barolo of all. Plenty of floral finesse and energy. 18.25pts/20 (94/100pts)
Price £34.78 Fine & Rare, Justerini & Brooks
Drink 2015–2025
Alc 14%
Brunate makes the most intensely perfumed and balanced Barolo of all. Plenty of floral finesse and energy. 18.25pts/20 (94/100pts)
Price £34.78 Fine & Rare, Justerini & Brooks
Drink 2015–2025
Alc 14%
Paolo Scavino, Monvigliero, Barolo 2008
Verduno gives tough-as-nails Barolo; Monvigliero is the one true grand cru. Stylish and pure, almost opulent. Great length. 18.25pts/20 (94/100pts)
Price £44.28 Bordeaux Index, Justerini & Brooks
Drink 2015–2040
Alc 14.5%
Verduno gives tough-as-nails Barolo; Monvigliero is the one true grand cru. Stylish and pure, almost opulent. Great length. 18.25pts/20 (94/100pts)
Price £44.28 Bordeaux Index, Justerini & Brooks
Drink 2015–2040
Alc 14.5%
Cogno, Ravera, Barolo 2008 18 (93)
Novello didn’t exist before Cogno arrived; today, it’s a hubbub of activity. Ravera is the best site. Typically juicy, full-bodied. Robust.
Price £31 Fine & Rare
Drink 2015–2040
Alc 14%
Novello didn’t exist before Cogno arrived; today, it’s a hubbub of activity. Ravera is the best site. Typically juicy, full-bodied. Robust.
Price £31 Fine & Rare
Drink 2015–2040
Alc 14%
Pio Cesare, Il Bricco, Barbaresco 2006
Cool-climate Barbaresco, from the crooked crags at 500m. Pure red berries and mineral brightness on a never-ending finish. 18pts/20 (93/100pts)
Price £43–£56 Exel, Fine & Rare, Jeroboams
Drink 2015–2035
Alc 14%
Cool-climate Barbaresco, from the crooked crags at 500m. Pure red berries and mineral brightness on a never-ending finish. 18pts/20 (93/100pts)
Price £43–£56 Exel, Fine & Rare, Jeroboams
Drink 2015–2035
Alc 14%
Renato Ratti, Rocche, Barolo 2005
Rocche dell’Annunziata is one of the top five Barolo vineyards. Amazing balance and grace. Intense and lively finish. 18pts/20 (93/100pts)
Price £29 En Primeur
Drink 2015–2035
Alc 14%
Rocche dell’Annunziata is one of the top five Barolo vineyards. Amazing balance and grace. Intense and lively finish. 18pts/20 (93/100pts)
Price £29 En Primeur
Drink 2015–2035
Alc 14%
Oddero, Vignarionda, Barolo 2006
Along with Brunate, the best Barolo vineyard of all. Traditionally made, with tough tannins: remarkable depth of spicy red berries and roses. Precise and mineral; this will age longer, and better, than you or I. 17.75pts/20 (92/100pts)
Price POA Pipai
Drink 2018–2050
Alc 14.5%
Along with Brunate, the best Barolo vineyard of all. Traditionally made, with tough tannins: remarkable depth of spicy red berries and roses. Precise and mineral; this will age longer, and better, than you or I. 17.75pts/20 (92/100pts)
Price POA Pipai
Drink 2018–2050
Alc 14.5%
Chiarlo, Cerequio, Barolo 2006
Almost atypical La Morra: much bigger and creamier than the usually lighter-styled wines from this hamlet. Rich and fleshy, and made from vines growing close by Michele Chiarlo’s new luxury resort that overlooks this famous cru. 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts)
Price £40–£42 Corking Wines, Slurp, Swig
Drink 2015–2028
Alc 14%
Almost atypical La Morra: much bigger and creamier than the usually lighter-styled wines from this hamlet. Rich and fleshy, and made from vines growing close by Michele Chiarlo’s new luxury resort that overlooks this famous cru. 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts)
Price £40–£42 Corking Wines, Slurp, Swig
Drink 2015–2028
Alc 14%
Damilano, Cannubi, Barolo 2008
Sitting where the Tortonian and Serravalian soils meet, these wines potentially offer the best of both worlds. Lacks stuffing, but pure and fresh: a more floral and fragrant Barolo.17.5pts/20 (91/100pts)
Price £30 Bordeaux Index
Drink 2015–2030
Alc 14%
Sitting where the Tortonian and Serravalian soils meet, these wines potentially offer the best of both worlds. Lacks stuffing, but pure and fresh: a more floral and fragrant Barolo.17.5pts/20 (91/100pts)
Price £30 Bordeaux Index
Drink 2015–2030
Alc 14%
Giorgio Scarzello, Vigna Merenda, Barolo 2004
Vigna Merenda is part of Sarmassa, along with Cannubi the only other true grand cru in the Barolo commune. Sarmassa gives bigger, meatier wines, with hints of earth and tar. Weighty and concentrated but with acidity to balance the richness. 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts)
Price £41 Weaver’s of Nottingham
Drink 2013–2020
Alc 13.5%
Vigna Merenda is part of Sarmassa, along with Cannubi the only other true grand cru in the Barolo commune. Sarmassa gives bigger, meatier wines, with hints of earth and tar. Weighty and concentrated but with acidity to balance the richness. 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts)
Price £41 Weaver’s of Nottingham
Drink 2013–2020
Alc 13.5%
Produttori di Barbaresco, Rabajà, Barbaresco 2007
Along with Asili and Santo Stefano, Rabajà is Barbaresco’s best vineyard. Bigger, fleshier but less mineral wines than the more aristocratic Asili. Has energy, spice and lift. 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts)
Price £32–£36.75 Astrum Wine Cellars, Caviste, Fine & Rare, Four Walls Wine Co
Drink 2015–2030
Alc 14%
Along with Asili and Santo Stefano, Rabajà is Barbaresco’s best vineyard. Bigger, fleshier but less mineral wines than the more aristocratic Asili. Has energy, spice and lift. 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts)
Price £32–£36.75 Astrum Wine Cellars, Caviste, Fine & Rare, Four Walls Wine Co
Drink 2015–2030
Alc 14%
Vietti, Masseria, Barbaresco 2007
Vietti makes paradigms of Barolo, but standout Barbaresco too. Typical Neive style: good attack, invigorating and chewy. A richer, earthier style than Treiso’s lithe beauties or the marvels of balance made around the town of Barbaresco.17.5pts/20 (91/100pts)
Price £51.18 Bibendum, Fine & Rare, Justerini & Brooks
Drink 2015–2030
Alc 14%
( Fonte Decanter )
