Festa Del Barolo Tasting Syd 2025

Showing more oak rendering and depth, the 2019 Barbera d'Alba Vittoria (with 4,500 bottles made) exhibits a much bigger and broader style compared to the estate's steel-aged Barbera. This wine sees 18 months in barrique, with about one-third new oak. The aging process serves to flesh out the dark fruit, dark cherry and plum. It creates a wine of bigger structure too, opening it up to more food-pairing possibilities, from meat lasagna to grilled steak. MONICA LARNER

JEROME COURSODON

Pear, apple, a white flower perfume, something a little like hay, and almonds. It’s a glossy wine but has a balanced attack of acidity, a slight lemon zest and almond bitterness, a pleasant and appropriate level of chalky grip, with a juicy finish of good length. Good. GARY WALSH, The Wine Front

Small tweaks and incremental changes in vinification and winemaking have seen the wines improve every year. The quality across the board has always been top of their class and further cements this outstanding estate as one of the pre-eminent producers in the region. It would certainly be no stretch to call them a leading light in the heart and hearts of Roero.

This is another great rendition. A hint of tropical fruit that lends an almost riesling like element to the wine, along with a floral hint. There is a some lovely depth to the fruit and that bit of extra flesh show so nicely on this wine. Still fresh and zippy on the finish with a little phenolic grip that carries the orchard fruits into a long, gentle close. Yum!

Guido Porro remains one of the most underrated growers in Serralunga. ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous.com

They are traditionalist at heart employing large format oak, no fining or filtering nor any herbicides or pesticides in the vineyards. The approach across the board is thoughtful, deliberate and with a hands-off approach in the winery. The wines are all hand harvested with either concrete or stainless steel for fermentation.

This shows aromas of ripe strawberries, rose petals, red licorice and blood orange. Medium-bodied and a little chewy with firm tannins and juicy acidity. Notes of sour cherries and dried herbs in the finish. Drink now. JAMES SUCKLING

The Collas are one of the oldest and most established families in Piedmont, and yet their wines somehow remain under the radar. Over the last few vintages, quality has been especially strong. Readers who enjoy transparent, classically made Barolo and Barbaresco will want to check these wines out. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous

Galloni is right, Pietro Colla has been on a roll of late and with growing appreciation of more traditional style Barolo and Barbaresco, they aren’t going to remain “under the radar” for long. The Colla’s loyalty to the roots of classic Piedmontese viticulture comes from a family heritage going back many generations and the only change here recently was the acquisition of a new winery. They had well and truly outgrown their original winery, spread across several buildings at Bricco del Drago in San Rocco Seno d’Elvio. Just as plans were being drawn up to dig into the hillside and build a new cellar, a neighbouring winery, Cascina Bompè, became available.

The grapes come from small yet significant vineyards in the various municipalities of the Barolo area, and the vines are between 10 and 45 years old, cultivated using the Guyot system. The average density per hectare is 4.500 plants. Limestone and clay-rich soil.

Each individual MGA is vinified and aged separately and in different ways to enhance the characteristics of each “terroir”. Alcoholic fermentation lasts around 3-4 weeks in stainless steel tanks, in contact with the skins. This period includes pre- and post-fermentation maceration, with the use of the traditional submerged-cap method. Malolactic fermentation takes place in wood. Aging: 30 months in large barrels and, for a small portion, in barriques. Each cru is vinified separately and assembled before bottling.

From young vines that could be classified as Barbaresco, the Francesco Versio 2022 Langhe Nebbiolo is a structured expression with pretty depth of fruit and concentration. Indeed, the chalky tannins stand out here and are definitely a step above your standard Langhe Nebbiolo. They are surrounded by soft tones of black fruit, spice and crushed flower. The wine ages in oak for a quick 12 months (whereas the Barbaresco stays in oak for an additional nine months). MONICA LARNER, The Wine Advocate

Versio's 2022 Langhe Nebbiolo is a rich, layered wine. It offers notable depth and tons of character. Macerated cherry, spice, dried flowers, mint and orange peel build nicely in the glass. This is a lot of wine. Impressive. ANTONIO GALLONI

The new super-star of La Morra, Alberto Crissante is one of the most gifted winemakers and farmers I've come across. As Galloni wrote recently, "The wines confirm Alessandria's place as one of the most talented young growers in Barolo today". In terms of style these are modern classical. Longish maceration and elevage in only larger Slavonian oak. The prettiness of La Morra with an underlining structure to give it a little more seriousness.

The 2021 Barolo del Comune di La Morra is a superb appellation-level wine. Floral and silky on the palate, with fabulous persistence, the 2021 exudes class from start to finish. This has come together beautifully over the last year or so. Specifically, the tannins that were a bit troublesome before have begun to integrate into the wine's fabric. The essence of La Morra in a glass. ANTONIO GALLONI

 

Made with grapes from four different vineyard sites located in three different townships, the classic 2021 Barolo from Mauro Veglio opens with aromas of red berry, hay, dark spice and a whiff of eucalyptus. Full-bodied, elegant and savory the palate offers red cherry, cranberry and star anise accompanied by fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. While it’s already almost accessible, it will also offer years of pleasure. KERIN O'KEEFE

 Utterly delicious, the 2022 Langhe Nebbiolo hits all the right buttons, starting with its alluring fragrance of blue flower, cedar and woodland berry. Showing the charm of a young, beautifully crafted Nebbiolo meant to be enjoyed in its youth and a few years beyond, it doles out ripe raspberry, wild strawberry and crushed mint before closing on a note of star anise. Lithe tannins and fresh acidity provide seamless support. (93) KERIN O'KEEFE

Red fruits, and really quite dusty and peppery, along with some floral notes. It’s medium-bodied, tannin has a gentle chew to it, and a whole lot of dusty spice cupboard character, but it’s fresh ,with some cranberry crunch to acidity, and a dry and gently ferrous finish of solid length. It’s maybe picked on the cusp of ripeness, though it does have energy and plenty of character. Lively. Good to drink. Frisky! GARY WALSH, The Wine Front

The latest wine from Justin Bubb and the Babo team is a Langhe Nebbiolo, sourced from vineyards near the famed town of Castiglione Falletto. The sites mainly face southwest between 300 and 400 metres above sea level. The 2021 vintage came with challenges: spring frosts affected yields, and the summer months were warm, but the fruit quality at the end of the season was fantastic. The fruit was handpicked, destemmed and macerated for about a week with twice-daily pumpovers. To preserve freshness and bright red-fruit appeal, the wine matured in concrete tanks for just a short period.

From select vineyards in the villages of Neive, and Alba, and vines 28-36 years, this youthful red was fermented and aged in stainless before moving to oak for 14 months’ rest.

This is one of the longest standing labels in Giacosa’s stable having first been produced in 1969, just after the first Barolos and Barbarescos of the mid-60’s.

Deep ruby red with light violet reflections. Ripe cherries, blackberries and plums on the nose, accompanied by a fine spiciness and a hint of liquorice. Full-bodied on the palate, with juicy fruit, lively, well-integrated acidity and supple tannins. The ageing in stainless steel preserves freshness and varietal typicity, while the balanced structure gives the wine depth and drinking pleasure. An authentic Barbera from the best vineyards in the Alba region, which is particularly harmonious in this vintage. SUPERIORE.DE

A star of the region and a stalwart of Serralunga - arguably Barolo's greatest commune. Massolino is classic in style and their wines exemplify a style that is pure fruited and lilting aromatics. This 2021 classico is a belter.

The 2021 Barolo is a fabulous wine that shows both the quality of the year and the very high standards at Massolino. Pliant and expressive, with notable depth, the Barolo is super-impressive. Macerated dark cherry, spice, lavender, menthol and blood orange all build in the glass. What a gorgeous and complete wine this is. The straight Barolo is, without question, the hidden gem in this range. ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2021 Barolo from Massolino is a lovely wine. It opens with heady aromas of dog rose, wild red berry and whiffs of botanical herb and new leather. On the elegant, savory palate, taut, fine-grained tannins accompany ripe Morello cherry, star anise and orange peel that give it a tangy finish. KERIN O'KEEFE

 

Graceful aromas of cinnamon, strawberries, vibrant dried red cherries and blood oranges. Full-bodied, it doesn’t come across as over-extracted but shows firm, velvety tannins that are muscular and refined, with crisp acidity and a super-polished and elegant finish. A wine with a long life ahead, yet drinkable now. Drink or hold. JAMES SUCKING

The 2023 Riesling Pétracine is a wild, dynamic wine. Ripe pear, apricot, jasmine and exotic floral overtones all meld together. The 2023 exudes varietal character, but it also has a distinctly Piedmontese profile, especially in its acids. This is a terrific vintage for the Pétracine. (94) ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous

The 2020 Barolo Bricco delle Viole, Vajra's flagship, is very fine. Dark cherry, kirsch, blood orange, spice and lavender are nicely amplified. The 2020 is gracious and elegant, but its youthful Nebbiolo tannins will require some time to soften. The 2020 is another wine that captures my keen interests with its sublime balance. I would be thrilled to own it. (96) ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous

The G.D. Vajra 2020 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is a very pretty wine with brightness and delicate aromas that remain etched and defined. You get dried violet or lilac, tart cherry, cranberry, lavender essence, rosemary and other perfumed Mediterranean nuances. Bricco delle Viole finishes dry, and the tannins are on the powdery side, giving the wine medium weight and a lean mid-palate. (95) MONICA LARNER, The Wine Advocate

This is the inaugural vintage. The 2022 Barbera d'Alba draws it fruit from a tiny 0.38-hectare parcel planted in 2018 at a cool 450 meters in elevation with darker soils that are a good fit for the variety. Vintner Francesco Versio planted four clones of the variety as a strategy to offset disease pressure, and to keep the vines healthy, he uses organic products and fertilizers made with sea algae, essential oils and citrus peels among other things. This wine is fermented with ambient yeasts in oak and ages in botti for seven to eight months. These results are especially succulent and rich with pretty dark fruit concentration and soft tannins. MONICA LARNER, The Wine Advocate

I have seldom seen a transformation as dramatic as what has taken place at Lodali over the last few years. In the 1990s, Walter Lodali made dark, potent, heavily extracted wines that were not particularly distinguished for the time. Ten years ago, tired of wines made by consultants, Lodali decided to focus solely on wine. "At the time, I ran two restaurants, and I made wine, all of which I did poorly," Lodali says. His first decision was to delegate operations of his outside businesses to others in order to devote all his attention to the vineyards and cellar. Changes started in earnest in 2017 and then developed gradually over time. The results are nothing short of stunning. Today's wines embody the essence of finesse. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous

From Treiso, this is beautifully perfumed and incredibly pale in colour. Aged in concrete and stainless, its silky with red berry fruit, thyme, lavender and lacy with sweet tannins.

Ripe red fruit, white pepper, leather, geranium and blood orange aromas come to the forefront on the stunning 2022 Freisa from Cavallotto. It's delicious and enveloping, delivering layers of strawberry, blood orange, truffle and licorice flavors before closing on mint and a salty note. Firm, fine-grained tannins and surprisingly fresh acidity for the hot, dry vintage keep it nicely balanced. (94) KERIN O'KEEFE

Mid-to-deep ruby. Very youthful on the nose, like the wine was just racked off from the cask. Very distinctive. Cranberry and savoury spice with hints of tamarind and garden herbs. Racy acidity that works like a shot of energy. Wired raspberry and completely dry. Stunning, fine, gravelly tannins. (18) WALTER SPELLER, JancisRobinson.com

This spicy red delivers cherry, raspberry, earth and eucalyptus flavors on a broad, dense frame, yet still remains fluid. Burly tannins put a lock on the finish, where accents of orange peel and spices linger. (94) BRUCE SANDERSON, Wine Spectator

Timorasso, a noble Piedmontese white grape variety from the area between Alessandria and Tortona with a unique aromatic and flavor profile that is especially exalted over the years, becoming one of the most sought-after Italian white wines to date. The vineyards are located in the Derthona area near Monleale, which has always been considered the best because of its mineral-rich soils and hilly microclimate. Low yields for a production of 5500 bottles, grapes transported inside isothermal cells in 20 kg crates to the winery after which there is a soft pressing to extract only the noble part of the must, cold maceration in steel tanks and aging on the lees for a few months before bottling. The result is a delicious wine, rich in floral scents and citrus notes where on drinking it proves taut and oily with excellent freshness and savory finish. - Rain City Wines

The Derthona has a soft lemon yellow colour with golden reflections. Delicate floral aromas of acacia and linden, with soft citrus notes. The mineral backbone and tightness that this young Derthona already possesses, gives a good idea of ??how the wine will evolve. The taste is an extension of the scent sensations. Full and rich, but also tight and oily with an endless freshness and an irresistible juiciness. Endless aftertaste with notes of almond and citrus, which will keep the emotions of this gastronomic wine alive for a long time. - World Wine