Barolo, Vietti 2021

The 2021 Barolo Castiglione is a superb entry-level Barolo from Vietti. Rich, deep and layered in the glass, the 2021 offers tons of near- and medium-term appeal. The blend of sites is compelling. Dark red-toned fruit, spice, menthol, and licorice are all beautifully amplified. In 2021, the Castiglione approaches the level of the crus, and that is saying something. (Drink between 2029-2041)

A graceful wine with cinnamon, earth, strawberries, sweet violets and leesy complexity. There is a lot of fruit depth, with a full body, lifted acidity and dense, ripe, velvety tannins. The finish is polished yet tight. Drinkable now, but best from 2027.

The 2021 Barolo Castiglione is a ruby red color and is floral on the nose, opening to perfumed aromas of roses, fresh cherries, sweet herbs, and dusty earth. Medium-bodied, it has a lovely structure and is very well-balanced, and I love the apricot-noted fruit on the finish. The fruit is more present than in the 2020 version of the same wine. A fantastic vintage for this entry-level wine, I love it already and would be happy to grab a few cases to enjoy over the coming 15 years. (Moving forward, due to newly implemented labeling restrictions, they are going to remove “Castiglione” from the front label, and it will only be on noted the back label.) (Drink between 2025-2040)

Two years on from the departure of former owners Luca Currado and Elena Penna, Vietti’s wines continue to honour their legacy. The only patent change is the removal of ‘Castiglione’ from the label of the estate’s classic Barolo. The construct remains the same, however: a multi-MGA, vintage-specific blend demonstrating the purity and precision found across the range. Gorgeously perfumed with rose, violet, black raspberry, liquorice and forest undergrowth among its many nuances, it boasts just the right amount of tightness, well measured density and a sophisticated chalky grip. (Drink between 2027-2039)