Barolo

The Barolo wines are not classified as “premier cru” and “grand cru” in the Burgundian style, but the concept of “cru” is very much present. For example, two famous crus from Monforte d’Alba are Sori Ginestra and Bussia. Barolo is aged for at least three years in oak barrels. Reserve wines are aged in barrels for at least five years. The Barolo wines are tannic when young and often require at least five additional years of aging to develop greater smoothness and flavor. After this aging process, they will have more body and complexity, with hints of truffle, chocolate, and violet. Producers such as Renatto Ratti or Josetta Saffirio offer wines that perfectly capture all the characteristics of the terroir of Barolo.

Barolo, the king of Italian wines

Located in the Piedmont wine region in ItalyThe Barolo appellation covers an area of more than 1,500 hectares spread across the Alpine hillsides. The classification system for Italian wines differs from that of French wines, but Barolo red wine holds the highest classification, the DOCG designation. The the most prestigious Barolo wine appellations are the municipalities located in the province of Cuneo, south of Turin; the best known are La Morra, Monforte d'Alba, Castiglione Falletto, and Serralunga d'Alba.

A unique terroir for full-bodied wines

The vast majority of Italian Barolo red wines are made from a single grape variety: Nebbiolo. This red grape variety gives the wines an intense garnet color and well-developed tannins. The vineyard soils are rich in limestone, clay, and marl, and the climate of the Alpine slopes where the vines grow yields exceptional harvests. Barolo wines are both complex and incredibly aromatic. 

By definition, the Italian wines from the Barolo appellation must be aged in oak or chestnut barrels for a minimum of three years. Although these wines may seem rather austere in their extreme youth, Barolo reds possess great aging potential, and certain exceptional vintages can even be cellared for very long periods to fully realize their potential, such as the 2005 and 2013 Barolos, which remain outstanding vintages. Some of these vintages can age in the cellar for over 50 years without their tannins and texture being altered—quite the contrary!

Unique vineyards for personalized wines

Some Barolo winemakers benefit from vineyard locations that produce wines with distinct characteristics and styles, much like the estate of Giovanni Manzone Barolo, whose vineyards are the highest in Piedmont. The steep vineyard of Manzone Barolo is located at an elevation of 450 meters, and the Barolos produced here are highly regarded, such as the "Bricat" and the "Gramolere."

An unparalleled richness of flavor

When discovering the intense color of the Barolo wine...one can only imagine the power of the tannins. The aromatic profile of Barolo wines features prominent notes of very ripe red fruits, such as raspberries and plums. These are followed on the palate by deep flavors of spices, licorice, and cocoa, which leave no one indifferent to the unique charms of these exceptional wines.