Many would argue that Barolo needs no introduction, yet for an equal amount this legendary wine remains shrouded in mystery as jaw dropping prices only create more barriers to discovery. Iconic names such as Aldo Conterno, Bruno Giacosa and Paolo Scavino are well coveted, their presence compulsory in any serious cellar, but what of the other tiny estates of Barolo and where does one start when seeking to indulge in the hedonistic pleasures originating from this infamous stretch of land?

Barolo should be and often is, the rich, dramatic, powerful and masculine expression of the Nebbiolo grape, a grape that has found a perfect home in the subtle microclimates of elven communes of the Langhe area of Piemonte in North West Italy. The name Barolo takes its name from the commune of Barolo, which along with La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Monforte d’Alba and Serralunga d’Alba is the most important.

So why is Barolo so good? Well firstly, in 1980 Barolo was promoted from its DOC status to DOCG and subsequently new, sensible and forward thinking conditions were set down to ensure overall quality was maintained and a few poorly made examples didn’t spoil the wine’s historically good reputation. Maximum yields were … Read more…

The 2004 Barolo vintage was one of the most hyped vintages of the decade and in a region where outstanding years come once or twice in ten, the excitement was justified. A good deal of the wines are already being enjoyed, fragrant and perfumed, yet displaying a backbone suitable for years of cellaring. Many of the top wines were tipped to go on proudly until 2035 and nothing yet suggests otherwise. If anything, they are likely last longer.

The long 2004 growing season was ideal for the development of those hallmark Barolo aromas of rose petal, tar and leather, the subtle beauty of which have long kept Barolo elevated as the ‘wine of kings and the king of wines’. Lengthy, slow maturation on the vine is crucial for the Nebbiolo grape, a grape traditionally among the last to ripen in Italy, to achieve not only it’s legendary aromatic complexity but also a phenolically ripe tannic structure.

After the very tricky vintages of 2002 and 2003, where both excessive rain and excessive heat contributed to some very disappointing wines, 2004 was a much needed bonus for many producers. Glorious sun shine in September meant the majority of producers were harvesting by … Read more…

Barolo, when done properly is magical and ‘the king of wines’ needs little introduction. With just one or two outstanding vintages per decade and the price of the top wines well above £50 a bottle the importance of estate and vintage becomes crucial to purchasing decisions and so with the 2005s starting to appear on restaurant lists and in independent shops a run through of the vintage seemed a useful exercise.

The DOCG regulations stipulate that Barolo must be produced from 100% Nebbiolo and with the grape being one of latest to fully ripen in Italy it is clear that the quality of the wines are reliant on favourable weather conditions just before the harvest. 2005 was certainly a tricky vintage with the summer seeing extended wet periods and relatively cool temperatures while October rains just before picking did some damage, although the more established names managed to get the fruit into the winery avoiding dilution. A little evidence of rot and uneven ripening can be found but like most years, there are plenty of growers who made excellent wines.

The vintage was different from the preceding 2004, which is considered to be one of the best of the decade, due … Read more…