Wine Advocate (100)

Here it is: the newest creation to emerge from the talented hands of Luciano Sandrone and his family. To be released in 2019, the 2013 Barolo Vite Talin is a wine born from a single vine. They noticed one plant that behaved differently than the others. It produced dark and concentrated fruit. Unlike common Nebbiolo, its leaves showed shallow sinuses between the lobes. Its vigor was different, producing fewer very loose clusters with small berry and seed size. The Sandrone family first noticed this vine in 1987 and named it Talin (a dialect version of the Italian name Natale) after the farmer who originally had the vine. For years, they vinified fruit from this vine separately in order to study its progress. They had a hunch that this mysterious vine was indeed genetically Nebbiolo, and they eventually received confirmation of this from the University of Turin. With this, they earn the right to call this wine Barolo. The massal selection is from Le Coste, and Barolo now results in less than one hectare of vines (6,000 square meters) and less than 2,000 bottles produced per year. This first vintage celebrates the 40th anniversary of the estate (1978-2018). The wine opens to an intense, dark color with extra pulp, power and structure in the mouth. The tannins are soft and rich. The wine is fermented in oak with maceration times that range from 20 to 25 days. It is then aged in tonneaux for two years before going into oval-shaped bottles for another two years before its commercial release. In total, it completes six years of aging at the winery. This is a game changer for the Sandrone family and for Barolo. What I find fascinating is that Barolo Talin takes us away from the discussion of vineyards and crus. It reminds us that the Nebbiolo grape is ultimately what is behind every great Barolo that we love. This wine takes us to the heart of Nebbiolo.

Vinous (93)

Full, bright red. Subdued but deep aromas of smoky red fruits, plum, dried rose, camphor and game; Barolo meets Burgundy. Fat, lush and compellingly sweet; broader and suppler today than Le Vigne, conveying an impression of lower yields. Already shows compelling depth. Here the tannins seem finer and sweeter, or is there simply more powerful buffering material? Lovely finishing flavors of red fruits and spices.

Vinous (95+)

Good bright ruby-red. Deeper but less forthcoming on the nose than Le Vigne, hinting at black cherry, menthol and flowers. Then broader and deeper on the palate, conveying a more classically dry impression than the wonderfully sweet, round 2007. As creamy as this is, it's dominated today by its impression of energy and medicinal black cherry reserve. Most impressive right now on the tightly coiled, rising, electric finish, which unfurls spectacularly as the wine sits in the glass. A great expression of Cannubi terroir.

Vinous (97)

The 2010 Barolo Cannubi Boschis is just starting to show the first signs of aromatic maturity. Dark and dense on the palate, the 2010 remains massively tannic in feel, though. Tasting the 2010 next to the current releases shows the style prevalent at the time that favored more overt fruit, greater extraction and heavier oak signatures. Black cherry, espresso, chocolate, menthol and dried flowers all develop as the 2010 opens up with time in the glass. This is dark, virile and powerful in style; I would wait a few years, as it is going through a phase of closure today.

Vinous (95+)

The 2017 Barolo Baudana is such a gorgeous wine. It, too conveys the power of Serralunga, but with a bit less heft than is typically the case. Sweet dark cherry, iron, cedar, rose petal, mint and white pepper give the 2017 its effusive, inviting personality. This is such a tremendous showing.

Vinous (96)

The 2019 Barolo Baudana is absolutely captivating. Effusive and bright in the glass, with tons of freshness and remarkable fruit purity, the Baudana offers up generous dark red fruit, spice, leather, kirsch, hard candy, cedar, tobacco and underbrush. There's terrific depth here and exceptional balance, too. Rose petal, white pepper and chalk lift the high-toned, intensely saline finish.

Wine Enthusiast (96)

Perfumed berry, pine-forest, rose and menthol aromas mingle together on this fragrant, stunning red. It's classically crafted, full bodied and loaded with finesse, delivering juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry, mint and star anise set against taut refined tannins. It's nicely balanced, with bright acidity and youthful tension. Drink 2022–2031.

Wine Advocate (97+)

Rocche Rivera is a 2.5-hectare parcel inside the Scarrone cru located in Castiglione Falletto with sandy calcareous soils. The celebrated Rocche di Castiglione is located adjacent, and the Pira cru is directly above. Rocche Rivera enjoys an ideal position in one of the best-performing areas of the appellation in this classic vintage. The Figli Luigi Oddero 2016 Barolo Rocche Rivera is stunning, with a level of harmony and purity that makes an immediate and lasting impact. The wine shows pristine fruit aromas backed by wild rose, tar, ash and blood orange. Those aromas hang in perfect balance. The wine is firmly compact and solid in terms of mouthfeel, requiring a few extra years of cellar time to fully unwind. This beautiful 6,000-bottle release will hit the market in October 2020.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

For all who criticized the 2014 vintage across the board, this is a great counterpoint. Opening with enticing scents of new leather, rose, camphor and perfumed berry, it's a textbook Serralunga Barolo. The chiseled palate is radiant, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, spiced cranberry and licorice while firm, fine-grained tannins provide taut support. Bright acidity keeps it racy, focused and balanced. It beautifully proves that even in challenging vintages, great producers can make great wines.

Richly layered and opulent, the Luigi Pira Barolo Cannubi 2018 promises a sensorial experience of remarkable complexity. Born in the heart of Italy's prestigious Barolo appellation, this ruby-hued divine vintage echoes the meticulous craftsmanship of celebrated viticulturist, Luigi Pira. Through unmistakable Nebbiolo grapes, it encaptures a unique dimension of fruit concentration. Its characteristically seamless texture reveals a skilful ageing of 24 months in large Slavonian oak barrels, bestowing harmonious notes of sweet spices, ripe blackberries, and a hint of silky cocoa.

An embodiment of Luigi Pira's commitment to traditional winemaking, this wine mirrors the delicate nuances of the Cannubi terroir highlighted by the warm 2018 vintage. The Luigi Pira Barolo Cannubi 2018 boasts an impressive harmony between firm tannins and vibrant acidity, culminating in a luscious, persistent finish. An equisite testament to the time-honoured Barolo lineage, this wine promises a sublime insight into Italy's iconic viticultural heritage.

Imbued with a masterful balance of tradition and innovation, the Luigi Pira Langhe Nebbiolo 2021 is a sublimely expressive creation from the prestigious Piedmont region of Italy. Pira, a third-generation winemaker, employs a meticulous blend of modern and traditional vinification techniques to cultivate the Nebbiolo varietal's renowned complexity. Cold maceration precedes fermentation in stainless steel tanks, whilst maturation occurs in large Slavonian oak barrels, culminating in a wine of indelible elegance and depth.

Nestled in the heart of the Barolo zone, the Luigi Pira estate embraces a rigorous adherence to quality, reflecting the idiosyncratic terroir of Serralunga d'Alba. Brimming with vibrant red fruit aromas, finely-knit tannins, and a classic vein of acidity, the Luigi Pira Langhe Nebbiolo 2021 embodies a spellbinding synthesis of power and precision. This is a vivid testament to the enduring prowess of Italian winemaking.

Vinous (92)

The 2015 Barolo Brunate is powerful, dense and tightly wound. That should not be much of an issue, as the 2015 will be released later than normal, a path Marcarini will take gradually over the next few years with the goal of releasing the wine two years later than they had previously. Dark and hulking in the glass, the 2015 is clearly not in the mood to show all of its cards today. Iron, smoke, menthol, game, dried rose petal and soil tones give the Brunate its brooding, inward personality.

James Suckling (100)

Amazing aromas of crushed berries, cherries, flowers, black truffles and wet earth, turning to violets and black tea. Extremely aromatic. Full-bodied, deep and profound with fantastically strong tannins that just melt into the wine. Fantastic length and intensity. Truly great. Drinkable, but better in 2024 and onwards.

James Suckling (98)

Ripe, decadent aromas of blackberries, black truffles and black cherries with hints of violets. Dark, wet earth, too. Full-bodied with a solid core of beautiful, pure fruit and creamy, round and fine tannins. Tight and reserved, but showing wonderful potential. Try after 2025.

Vinous (99)

The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna delle Grazie pulls you close and holds your attention with a wildly perfumed and hauntingly seductive bouquet, boasting an intense array of wild strawberry, currants, waxy rose and licorice. There are depths of plush texture, dark and rich, yet with stimulating acidity to balance, and saturating mineral-tinged red fruits and spices that cascade across the palate. This leaves you with cheek-puckering tension, chiseled structure and tart red berry concentration that seems like it could go on for days. The 2013 is dense and youthfully poised, yet aching to explode. This is just a baby today, but the potential is off the charts. The Riserva is a special, single-barrel selection made by Alessandro Mori. While this was the first opportunity to taste the 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna delle Grazie, the wine was originally released in 2019.

Vinous (96)

Good full ruby. Superripe, pure aromas of blackberry, cassis, violet, minerals, milk chocolate and exotic spices. Superconcentrated, rich and seamless, offering explosive sweetness but also great verve, thanks to bright acidity that provides wonderful lift and clarity to the blackberry, blueberry and black cherry flavors. Finishes with ultra-suave tannins and a kaleidoscope of violet and Oriental spice flavors. A very great Masseto from a hot year, when I would have expected the merlot to suffer a bit. But unlike in 2003, when it wasn't just hot but dry as well, Masseto's unique microclimate allowed the merlot to avoid major stress in 2009. As good and refined as the Ornellaia is in 2009, I think the Masseto has an extra layer of complexity and depth.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

A wine of extraordinary purity, silkiness and finesse, the 2010 Masseto has it all. The flavors are bright, precise and exceptionally pure, but it is the wine’s total balance that is utterly compelling. What more can I ask from a wine? Absolutely nothing. There is often something magical about cooler, later-ripening vintages at the estate. The interplay of more moderate conditions with the inherent power of these sites can yield wines of profound beauty and brilliance. The 2010 is all that, and more.

James Suckling (100)

Wow. Fabulous aromas of currants, rosemary, mint and orange peel. Perfect nose. Full body with perfectly integrated tannins. It's long and incredible with tangerine, toasted-oak, berry, terracotta and chocolate flavors. It lasts for minutes on the palate. This needs at least five years to soften but so spellbinding now.

James Suckling (99)

Fantastic aromas of lavender, rosemary, violets and currants. Full body, a wonderful concentration of fruit yet tense and taunt energy. The new wood is exposed now but will become integrated and polished. Give it three or four years together. The pure merlot magic is there. The 2011 was a perfect wine, and this is very close indeed. Drink in 2019.

James Suckling (98)

Aromas of blueberries, violets and roses turn to black truffles. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and great length. So gorgeous and persistent. It goes on for minutes.

Wine Advocate (100)

The release of this wine comes at a very happy time for the Masseto brand. The stunning 2015 Masseto is hitting the market just as the final touches are being made to the new Masseto winery. I'm told that Masseto might one day see other wines made under that same roof, so we can't exclude a future enlargement of the Masseto portfolio. The Masseto vineyard now covers seven hectares (divided into three plots), and the vines range from 30 to 40 years old. The wine is absolutely teeming with sensorial spirit that is transmitted through the bounty of the bouquet and the solid tannins of the mouthfeel. Nothing about the wine goes unnoticed or unchecked. Its many working pieces fit together with precision like a well-oiled machine. The 2015 vintage is characterized by a level of sheer exuberance that also defined the 2004 and 2007 vintages. Yet, it also reveals similar power, directness and linearity that we saw in the 2010 vintage. The 2015 Masseto takes the best of all those past vintages and confines those qualities to this single, spectacular bottle.

Falstaff (100)

Rich ruby. Deep dark nose, concentrated, but also very accessible with blackberry and mulberry fruit and savoury garrigue notes. Multi-layered palate with fine-meshed tannin, compact and juicy, followed by lots of tobacco. It literally dances across the tongue, very long with fine savouriness at the back.

Falstaff (100)

Rich ruby. Deep dark nose, concentrated, but also very accessible with blackberry and mulberry fruit and savoury garrigue notes. Multi-layered palate with fine-meshed tannin, compact and juicy, followed by lots of tobacco. It literally dances across the tongue, very long with fine savouriness at the back.

James Suckling (98)

The clarity of the ripe blackcurrants, black cherries and flowers in the nose is entrancing. Lavender, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, silky tannins that run long and straight through the wine, providing brightness and focus. Goes on for minutes. Strength with finesse Drink after 2024, but already wonderful to taste.

James Suckling (98)

The clarity of the ripe blackcurrants, black cherries and flowers in the nose is entrancing. Lavender, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, silky tannins that run long and straight through the wine, providing brightness and focus. Goes on for minutes. Strength with finesse Drink after 2024, but already wonderful to taste.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

Axel Heinz turning out yet again a wine that is generous and moreish but that goes deeper, offering layers of coffee, smoked herbs, rosemary, saffron, gentle waves of powerful brambled fruits. Mouthwatering, with tension and precision. Finely spun tannin that are elastic in embracing and taming the exuberant fruits yet chewy enough on the finish to show there is plenty of ageing ability ahead. Makes a big impression and yet has that Italian ability to be gulpable at the same time. A more elegant, moreish version of Merlot than you get in the biggest Pomerols, but every bit as beautiful. 11ha.

The Wine Independent (100)

Masseto is Italy's most expensive red wine, currently releasing onto the market with prices between 800-1000 euros per bottle. From the start it has been a 100% Merlot wine but for the first time in 2019 we see the inclusion of 10% Cabernet Franc. In my view this is a very intelligent move and a good response to climate change; Cabernet Franc has a natural home in Bolgheri and it is a later ripening variety. When it ripens well, it can add great depth of fragrance and flavor to a wine. The 2019 is deeply colored and dark purple in tone with an intriguing perfumed, violet note on the nose and lots of spice, red fruits, and black raspberry on the palate. The tannins are very fine and tightly knit and there is a lovely harmony and freshness to this wine with bright acidity providing a fresh finish. There is also a lick of creamy oak on the finish, but all very subtly done. The Masseto 2019 has a perfect texture and weight. It is concentrated but supremely elegant at the same time. For Axel Heinz, Director of Winemaking: “The 2019s are in a sweet spot at the moment.” I think I have to agree! Drink 2024 -2045.