Barolo
Known as the king of wines, it is potent, complex and long-lived wine made from the Nebbiolo grape. The appellation is spread over 2,134 ha in total and consists of several villages and communes. divided into a multitude of individual vineyard sites and crus similar to Burgundy, with many producers owning small plots of the individual crus.
The main winemaking approach is a long maceration of Nebbiolo grapes - between 30 to 60 days -followed by a long maturation period in large old casks for a minimum of 38 months. And many producers often choose to age their wines even longer than this because of the intense fruit and powerful tannins of their grapes.
The combination of microclimate, altitude, soil, exposition and each winemaker’s individual touch is what makes every Barolo different. And in the main communes such as Serralunga, Castiglione Falletto, and La Morra, their Barolos are renowned for certain characteristics unique to each of them, due to their differing soils and exposition.
Barolo
-
$867.00 -
Vinous (94)
Cavallotto's 2007 Barolo Riserva Vignolo is opulent and racy in the glass. The ripe style of the year might be too much for classicists, but there is an intensity to the Vignolo that is hard to resist. There is nothing intellectual or ponderous here, just a big, voluptuous Barolo that captures the personality of the vintage. Even with all of its obvious resonance and generosity, the tannins remain very much present, which suggests the 2007 has many years of fine drinking head of it.$161.00 -
Vinous (94)
A dark, powerful wine, the 2011 Barolo Riserva Vignolo has nevertheless preserved good freshness for the year. The breadth and amplitude of the vintage comes through, and yet all the elements are impeccably balanced. Readers can look forward to another 20 years of fine drinking. This is very nicely done.$695.00 -
(1x75cl) 2013Wine Advocate (95)
The 2013 Barolo Riserva Vignolo surprises for the sheer darkness and saturation of its color. Upfront and without too much bother, the wine offers immediate richness and concentration with dark berry fruit, plum and dried cherry. There is a lot of intensity here, but the wine is more horizontal and broad in character than it is vertical per se. In other words, it shows a heavy center of gravity, and its very character is focused on richness and power. This wine ages in 20- and 100-hectoliter Slavonian oak botti for up to five years before its commercial release. Production is exactly 6,666 bottles.$145.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The 2013 Barolo Riserva Vignolo surprises for the sheer darkness and saturation of its color. Upfront and without too much bother, the wine offers immediate richness and concentration with dark berry fruit, plum and dried cherry. There is a lot of intensity here, but the wine is more horizontal and broad in character than it is vertical per se. In other words, it shows a heavy center of gravity, and its very character is focused on richness and power. This wine ages in 20- and 100-hectoliter Slavonian oak botti for up to five years before its commercial release. Production is exactly 6,666 bottles.$676.00 -
(1x75cl) 2015Wine Enthusiast (97)
Aromas of leather, scorched earth, grilled herb and camphor come to the forefront along with a whiff of hazelnut. Savory and full-bodied, the compelling palate delivers dried cherry, orange zest, black licorice and baking spice set against youthfully firm but refined tannins.$124.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (97)
Aromas of leather, scorched earth, grilled herb and camphor come to the forefront along with a whiff of hazelnut. Savory and full-bodied, the compelling palate delivers dried cherry, orange zest, black licorice and baking spice set against youthfully firm but refined tannins.$595.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (99)
Enticing aromas recalling new leather, pressed rose, eucalyptus and sandalwood come to the forefront on this gorgeous, compelling wine. Full-bodied, structured and loaded with finesse, the precise palate is young but already delicious, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry, licorice, truffle and white pepper alongside a backbone of taut, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized and will fuel decades of evolution. Drink 2026–2056$162.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (99)
Enticing aromas recalling new leather, pressed rose, eucalyptus and sandalwood come to the forefront on this gorgeous, compelling wine. Full-bodied, structured and loaded with finesse, the precise palate is young but already delicious, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry, licorice, truffle and white pepper alongside a backbone of taut, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized and will fuel decades of evolution. Drink 2026–2056$1,030.00 -
$153.00 -
$684.00 -
(12x75cl) 2018Wine Advocate (97)
The organic Cavallotto 2018 Barolo Riserva Vignolo delivers the focus and straight-shooting concentration that we can expect of Castiglione Falletto. The wine ages for an extended 60 months in large Slavonian oak casks, and fruit comes from a southwest-facing slope with 40-year-old vines. The wine's core of fruit remains on the dark side, but you also get pretty lift and verticality with tart berry aromas, shaved mineral, cola and mint (like when you walk through the vineyard rows in summer). The wine is amply structured and fleshed out and delivers texture. The Riserva Vignolo is my favorite of Cavallotto's wines this year. Production is just under 7,000 bottles.$1,315.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The organic Cavallotto 2018 Barolo Riserva Vignolo delivers the focus and straight-shooting concentration that we can expect of Castiglione Falletto. The wine ages for an extended 60 months in large Slavonian oak casks, and fruit comes from a southwest-facing slope with 40-year-old vines. The wine's core of fruit remains on the dark side, but you also get pretty lift and verticality with tart berry aromas, shaved mineral, cola and mint (like when you walk through the vineyard rows in summer). The wine is amply structured and fleshed out and delivers texture. The Riserva Vignolo is my favorite of Cavallotto's wines this year. Production is just under 7,000 bottles.$153.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The organic Cavallotto 2018 Barolo Riserva Vignolo delivers the focus and straight-shooting concentration that we can expect of Castiglione Falletto. The wine ages for an extended 60 months in large Slavonian oak casks, and fruit comes from a southwest-facing slope with 40-year-old vines. The wine's core of fruit remains on the dark side, but you also get pretty lift and verticality with tart berry aromas, shaved mineral, cola and mint (like when you walk through the vineyard rows in summer). The wine is amply structured and fleshed out and delivers texture. The Riserva Vignolo is my favorite of Cavallotto's wines this year. Production is just under 7,000 bottles.$676.00 -
(3x150cl) 2015Vinous (90-92)
A very pretty wine in its peer group, Ceretto's 2015 Barolo is pliant, open-knit and quite pretty, and yet it appears to have a good bit of supporting structure as well. Floral overtones and bright red berry fruit open up in this super-expressive, silky, entry-level Barolo from Ceretto. The balance of fruit and structure is impressive, but more than anything else, the 2015 is simply delicious.$327.00 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
Ceretto offers a tour de force in the 2016 vintage with four excellent single-vineyard expressions from Bricco Rocche, Bussia, Brunate and Prapò. If you can't choose between those wines, you always have this excellent fallback. The classic 2016 Barolo offers dark intensity with great aromatic detailing. Fruit and some floral notes are followed by ferrous notes and a good amount of powdered licorice. The aromas are delicate and fragile; however, the wine deftly hides its power within the soft folds of its slender, mid-weight mouthfeel. This is a perfect go-to Barolo when you can't choose from all the excellent options in this benchmark 2016 vintage. This wine, like the others, hit the market in May 2020.$272.00 -
Matthew Jukes (18)
The nose on this wine is a veritable mosaic of the amazing villages which make up blend. The blend is a super-complicated combination of La Morra (twoBrunates – La Morra and Barolo, Zonchetta), a Barolo plot in Cannubi San Lorenzo, Castiglione Falletto (2 parcels of Bricco Rocche, facing La Morra, and Rocche di Castoglione, Bussia in the Bussia Soprana section which is the finest and also Serralunga d’Alba (in Gabutti and Prapò). Federico would love to release these as three individual ‘village’ wines as opposed to a blended village Cru, but this will happen in the future. As far as this wine is concerned, it is a triumph of blending and the harmony here is extraordinary. This is a stunningly balanced wine which is forward, clean and refreshing. The fruit is cherry-soaked, tender, balanced and the tannins are crisp and juicy. This is a stunningly forward and expressive wine and it is a magnificent example of harnessing the most favourable characters of the vintage and gently coaxing these elegant tones from this myriad of vineyard sites. It is an incredibly impressive and also unnervingly sensitive Nebbiolo.$309.00 -
Vinous (88-90)
The 2018 Barolo is very pretty and light on its feet. Sweet floral and spice accents lend lovely aromatic presence. In keeping with the style of the year, this is an especially ethereal, weightless wine.$400.00 -
Vinous (88-90)
The 2018 Barolo is very pretty and light on its feet. Sweet floral and spice accents lend lovely aromatic presence. In keeping with the style of the year, this is an especially ethereal, weightless wine.$340.00 -
Vinous (93+)
Medium red. Complex, ripe aromas of cherry, plum, marzipan, dried rose, earth and peppery spices. Big, lush and expansive but adamantly dry. A very full, layered Barolo with lovely vinosity and balance. Finishes with lush, very fine but strong tannins and insinuating, impressively persistent flavor. Possesses more than enough material to handle the 100% new barriques A superb bottle. According to Alessandro, this cuvee is Ceretto's most complete Barolo, typically combining the character of the Brunate and Prapo.$241.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2013 Barolo Bricco Rocche is the most expressive of the Ceretto single vineyard Barolos at this stage. Pliant, supple and quite giving, the 2013 is tempting to drink early, but it really needs time to be at its very best. Silky, polished tannins add raciness in this beautifully layered, exquisite Barolo from Ceretto.$1,610.00 -
Wine Advocate (98+)
These back-to-back vintages, 2015 and 2016, deliver knockout performances. The Ceretto 2016 Barolo Bricco Rocche has always been one of the benchmark wines in this revered portfolio. It offers a lovely bouquet that explores some of the more nuanced sides of Nebbiolo that veer into the realms of rose, ash, tar and smoke. These pretty little details frame a solid core of berry fruit, cassis and dried cherry. One of the most distinctive aspects of this wine is the mouthfeel, which manages to impart its power and length without subtracting from its profound elegance. Fruit comes from a 1.5-hectare site owned by the Ceretto family, with sandstone soils at 350 to 370 meters above sea level. This is a Barolo to remember—and save in your cellar.$726.00 -
James Suckling (95)
Ripe red berries on the nose, together with some bitter-orange marmalade and spice. If you dig deep down, there’s an emerging note of truffle. Lovely, nascent complexity that’s also reflected on the medium-to full-bodied palate, which is tightly packed with all the goodies that the nose promised. The tannins firm up a bit at the end and need to soften a little to get full enjoyment. But so tempting now! Try from 2024.$973.00 -
$756.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
This is the grande dame in the Ceretto portfolio. The organic 2021 Barolo Bricco Rocche draws its fruit from one of my favorite slopes in Castiglione Falletto that always delivers extreme sharpness and focus. Indeed, this is one of the smallest MGAs in the appellation (maybe the smallest?), and the Ceretto family has the monopoly. Bricco Rocche sits at 350 to 370 meters in elevation with southeastern and southwestern exposures and a mix of sand, silt and clay soils. The wine opens gracefully to reveal redcurrant, blue flower and crushed stone over a very firm, mid-weight finish fueled by long, silky tannins. A pop of bright acidity seals the deal.$1,075.00 -
Vinous (96)
Like the Prapò, the Barolo Brunate is much less expressive than it was immediately after bottling. Gracious and super-classic in feel, the Brunate has a lot to offer. In the glass, the wine is delicate and sensual. Even so, its best days are far off into the future. The Brunate is the least expressive of Ceretto's 2013 Barolos today. Then again, that is Brunate.$1,195.00 -
Vinous (96)
Like the Prapò, the Barolo Brunate is much less expressive than it was immediately after bottling. Gracious and super-classic in feel, the Brunate has a lot to offer. In the glass, the wine is delicate and sensual. Even so, its best days are far off into the future. The Brunate is the least expressive of Ceretto's 2013 Barolos today. Then again, that is Brunate.$787.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2015 Barolo Brunate is yet another silky and fine red wine with perhaps a tiny bit more structure and firmness at the back than the other single-vineyard offerings from Ceretto. It is beautifully accessible and oh so fine and elegant. The wine is aged in 300-liter French oak (with 10% new oak) for 12 months, followed by 24 months in Austrian oak casks. I absolutely love this wine. It's a cru that will impress at any wine-tasting party, or I can picture it at dinner with a deliciously rare steak au poivre. Some 13,000 bottles were made.$612.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
I wasn't sure how to order my tasting flight of Ceretto's four single-vineyard Baroli (from Castiglione Falletto, Monforte d'Alba and Serralunga d'Alba), so I decided to start with this wine from Brunate in La Morra, at the heart of the appellation. The 2016 Barolo Brunate shows a dark core of fruit, and you are immediately aware of the depth and profound nature of this wine. The bouquet is lifted by cassis, wild cherry and plum. The ferrous quality that we saw in some of the other wines is softer here, and I would describe Brunate as the most fruit-forward (at this young stage) with elegant tannins and impactful fruit weight on the finish. All of these wines are aged in new oak (just 10% of the total) and used oak barrel (90%) for the first 12 months. After that, the wine is racked into Austrian oak casks for an additional two years before going into bottle for one more year.$501.00 -
Jancis Robinson (17+)
La Morra. Youthful mid ruby. Full, deep nose of ripe, red fruit with the merest suggestion of oak, like a seasoning more than anything. Peppery prickle on the nose and lifted, aromatic cherry notes with a hint of nutmeg. Lively, concentrated sour-cherry palate, viscous and multi-layered. Firm, but well-behaved tannins adding grip to the cherry fruit on the long finish.$427.00
Known as the king of wines, it is potent, complex and long-lived wine made from the Nebbiolo grape. The appellation is spread over 2,134 ha in total and consists of several villages and communes. divided into a multitude of individual vineyard sites and crus similar to Burgundy, with many producers owning small plots of the individual crus.
The main winemaking approach is a long maceration of Nebbiolo grapes - between 30 to 60 days -followed by a long maturation period in large old casks for a minimum of 38 months. And many producers often choose to age their wines even longer than this because of the intense fruit and powerful tannins of their grapes.
The combination of microclimate, altitude, soil, exposition and each winemaker’s individual touch is what makes every Barolo different. And in the main communes such as Serralunga, Castiglione Falletto, and La Morra, their Barolos are renowned for certain characteristics unique to each of them, due to their differing soils and exposition.

