Diego & Damiano Barale Barolo 2020

2020 Vintage: The 2020 Barolos are notable for their intense fragrance, boasting floral and spice aromas. They also are defined by smooth, almost glossy tannins that make them accessible right out of the gate…Most are also more lightly colored than usual, but don’t let that fool you, they still boast underlying structure and concentration as well as elegance. KERIN O’KEEFE

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I remember standing in the Barolo section when I first started at PWS  - four years ago (apparently I’m still on probation) and asking the boss for his under the radar picks. He pointed to a bottle of Diego and Damiano Barale Barolo and said ‘I reckon these brothers. They have the sites, are their own biggest critics and just have an x factor.’

I bought a few bottles (see I do listen Michael) and recently took one to a wine show dinner. It was a great vintage, the 2016 and I caught the eye of the Chair of Show and he feverishly asked ‘new producer? This is great.’

Diego and Damiano are part of the Barale family – a very historic  family who’ve been in Barolo since the 17th Century. They’re related to the Mascarellos, Fratelli Barale and the Rinaldis. We’ve been working with the brothers since their early days in 2012. Tragically their father died when they were young and their uncle managed the vineyards till they felt it was time for them to go it alone.

With over a decade of experience with their plots in the Barolo and Monforte communes (including the crown jewel of the Canubbi vineyard) their wines have hit their stride. Though they’re their biggest critics – each time we visit they’re quick to let us know what they could have done better. It’s this self awareness that really propels each vintage. And their honest delivery is refreshing and humorous. On his organic vineyard practices Diego told us, ‘We put the cow shit in the vineyard.’

Following the traditional path of blending across communes, fruit is sourced from parcels in Cannubi and Monrobiolo di Bussia in Barolo and San Giovanni in Monforte. The vinification is "modern classic" with most fermentation done in stainless steel (submerged cap method) and where wood is required it happens in older tonneaux and tine (kind of a smaller botte). 

This is one of the best value Barolo’s we offer - $90 each in a 6 pack buy. It’s also one of the most soulful and tactile wines; ‘…minerally core, supple acidity, fragrant light fruit very persistent and long. Almost ephemeral,’ says Walter Speller (Jancis Robinson’s Italian critic). It’s insightful and eloquent in its delivery while remaining Italian to the bone.

They’re a small producer, just the two brothers do all the work. Damiano is in the cellar while Diego manages the vineyards. They’re slowly adding vineyards to their repertoire.  2020 was a warm and effortless vintage, the wines are open with supportive backbones that will benefit from mid-term aging. Inviting and expressive are not two words we usually associate with young Barolo, but these are.

Please don't delay if you'd like to nab some for your cellar, they don't make a lot of wine.

Cheers

Gabrielle Poy

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