Barolo Via Nuova, Pira/Chiara Boschis 2020

The 2020 Barolo Via Nuova takes on a more introspective and serious tone, with more concentration and dark berry notes of black raspberry and cherry as well as dark earth and menthol. It is fresh on the palate, with significantly more concentration from the vintage, with cherry, tea leaf, and turned soil. (I love how each vintage is so transparent as a lens into the different nature of any given year’s climate and conditions.) This is the most muscular of the wines. Hold this one and drink 2026-2046.

The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2020 Barolo Via Nuova opens to a little more dark fruit and ripe berry in this vintage. The wine is buttoned up from all sides into a tight little package of aromas. You get orange peel, bright cherry and a fragrant springtime fruit blossom. There are hints of herb, tar, violet and chalky mineral. The tannins are finely polished and smooth. This is a 15,000-bottle release. 2026-2045.