Wine Ratings

wines

Brovia is one of the brightest stars of Castiglione Falletto, the comune at the heart of the appellation that benefits from a complicated mix of soil types from different geological periods that intersect in and around this village. The 2015 Barolo is wine of character and brawn with dark fruit aromas followed by savory tobacco, spice and a very distinctive note of rusty nail or ferrous earth. The bouquet is large in scale, reflecting the intensity and expansive personality of this warm vintage. The tannins are elegantly integrated, and the wine leaves a lasting and beautiful impact on the palate.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94+ RP

The 2021 Barolo La Serra is contemplative and layered on the nose with aromas of redcurrants, porcini, fresh leather, anise, and floral incense. The palate is focused and pure, with its bright red fruits shining with refreshing acidity, fine, coiled tannins, and a long, graceful finish. It’s a lovely wine with a wide window for enjoyment over the coming 15-20 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDThe 2015 Barolo La Serra is wonderfully silky, aromatic and refined, with all of the lift that is such a signature of this high-altitude La Morra site. Flowers, sweet red cherry, spice, tobacco and cedar are wonderfully delineated. Even more importantly, the aggressive tannins that once often penalized this wine are pretty much absent, a change Marcarini ascribes to gentler handling of the fruit during the initial part of fermentation. This is very nicely done.Vinous Media | 93 VMSpicy, earthy and very ripe with gorgeous aromas and intensity. Full-bodied, tight and very focused with a great finish and length. Shows compact and polished tannins. Goes on for minutes. Drink from 2023.James Suckling | 93 JSRed berry, pressed rose, camphor and wild herb aromas shape the nose. Elegantly structured, the taut, lithe palate offers cranberry, sour cherry and star anise alongside a note of mint. Polished tannins and bright acidity keep it fresh and balanced. Drink 2021–2030.Kerin O’Keefe | 93 KORed berry, pressed rose, camphor and wild herb aromas shape the nose. Elegantly structured, the taut, lithe palate offers cranberry, sour cherry and star anise alongside a note of mint. Polished tannins and bright acidity keep it fresh and balanced. Drink 2021–2030.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

The Piero Benevelli 2019 Barolo Ravera di Monforte has just a little more ripeness compared to the Le Coste di Monforte, and this wine is more open-knit and ready to drink as a result. You get the same combination of dried fruit tones and redcurrants that come with a healthy dose of rusty mineral and iron-like sensations. This is a 4,000-bottle release.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPThe 2019 Barolo Ravera di Monforte is a powerful, searing wine. Red cherry fruit, leather, cedar, mint, iron, white pepper and dried flowers build in a mid-weight, tannic Barolo that is going to need time to be at its best. There is good tension and energy, but my impression is that the 2019 is recovering from its bottling, as it is very tight and sinewy in feel today.Vinous Media | 92+ VM

Racy and focused. I like the aromas of lavender, violet and white roses alongside strawberry, cranberry and stone. Medium body, with firm and fine tannins that are long and succulent. It’s fine and polished. Vegan. Needs three to four years to come together.James Suckling | 94 JSAlways a popular choice, the Vietti 2020 Barolo Castiglione (made with a blend of fruit from multiple MGA sites) has a voluptuous approach with dark fruit, cola, wild berry coulis and smoky tar. The wine wears a hot vintage well, with accessible and powdery tannins for near or medium-term drinking. In terms of texture, the Castiglione has a little more brawn and body compared to your standard Barolo. This is an ample release of 70,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPFragrant, polished and vibrant right out of the gate, the 2020 Barolo Castiglione displays beautifully-lifted notes of crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, mint, white pepper and orange peel. This classically built, mid-weight Barolo is classy to the core. Like all the 2020s here, it will benefit from time in bottle or a good decantVinous Media | 93 VMFloral, fruity, and appealing, the 2020 Barolo Castiglione is the calling card of the estate for the entry to the Barolo range. Emblematic of the vintage, it’s appealing upfront, with aromas of cherry candies, crushed flowers, apricots, and dusty earth. On the palate, it offers sweet tannins, fresh acidity, and a clean finish, with nothing heavy. It is a lovely and easy-drinking wine already, but it doesn’t lack Nebbiolo character. This will be a wine to snap up on restaurant lists for its value and approachability. Drink 2024-2034. 50,000 bottles.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDA lean, tightly wound red, with cranberry, sour cherry, licorice, eucalyptus and earth flavors. Fresh and stitched with burly tannins, this leaves a juicy, savory finish. Best from 2027 through 2040. 10,330 cases made, 1,800 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 91 WS