Barolo, the Wine of Kings and King of Wines
Not often do we have the chance to taste four different wines from the same winery (Vietti), the same region (Barolo), the same vintage (2015) and the same grape (Nebbiolo)—and we’re including a special white Vietti too. The WAC Wine Club is in for a special treat to start off the new year just right.
A word about the region, wine and grape: Barolo is one of the most prestigious, age-worthy, and collectible wines in the world. Like so many of the greats, Barolo is a fascinating expression of a particular place as experienced through the lens of a consistent grape variety, Nebbiolo. All wines from the Barolo DOCG must be 100% Nebbiolo, a grape loved for its rich nose and anise aromas with mouth-drying tannin and striking acidity. Barolo is actually the fruitiest and most full-bodied of all the Nebbiolo regions in the Langhe, which is found in the Cuneo province of Piedmont in Northwestern Italy.
It was at the end of the 1800s when Carlo Vietti started the Vietti Winery, right in the heart of the Langhe, on the highest point of the medieval village of Castiglione Falletto, in the very place where it is located today. The winery remained in the family until the Krause Family purchased it in 2016. Today, Vietti counts within its heritage some of the finest and most representative vineyards of the Barolo and Barbaresco areas and is universally considered to be among the best Italian wines.
The grapes for this wine come from the historical cru Brunate, located in La Morra, on the south side towards Barolo from old vines. The wine spent about 30 months in French oak barrels and Slovenian oak casks. Expect an intense ruby red wine with generous body, harmoniously balanced, velvety texture with a long rich finish. The wine shows ripe red fruit, lots of spices, violet, plums and intense tar, very typical for the Brunate vineyard.
2015 Vietti Barolo Castiglione
Grapes selected from small vineyards spread around the Barolo region are vinified and aged separately with slightly different processes to underline the singular characteristics of each parcel and terroir. The wine is aged for roughly 30 months in oak and barriques; all parcels are then carefully blended before bottling. Aromas of plum, red ripe black and sour cherries with a hint of rose petal emerge from the glass while on the palate the flavor is classic, rich and potent, with notes of alpine herbs and a leathery finish.
This wine is made from the single vineyard, Lazzarito in Serralunga d’Alba, from vines that average 36 years. This small vineyard enjoys a southwest exposure with clay and limestone soil with careful attention paid in the winemaking process. Different from the others, the wine is deep garnet red in color, richly rounded with intense aromatics hinting of figs and plums. Soft and sweet tannins are apparent followed by a long finish.
All grapes for this wine come from the single vineyard, Ravera, in Novello where the oldest vines were planted in 1935. This vineyard also has a southwest exposure with clay and limestone soil. The wine spent over a year on fine lees without racking. Also intensely deep garnet red in color, this wine exhibits a classical and traditional robust structure with impressive tannins. Expect distinct cherry notes with a touch of spice and menthol on the nose finishing with a firm impression of elegant fruit.
2021 Vietti Derthona Colli Tortonesi Timorasso
This white wine is made from an ancient grape variety that was on the verge of extinction. Dry in style wines made from the Timorasso grape tend to be full-bodied with good acidity. Having spent some time in stainless steel tanks and large oak casks Vietti’s Derthona shows nice complexity and refinement. On the nose notes of ripe pear and peaches along with honey come through nicely. The wine’s flavor profile proves gentle, soft and quite rich though very well balanced, without any edges.
