2021 Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo Piedmont Italy

2021 Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo Piedmont Italy

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Renato Ratti

Marcenasco Barolo
Piedmont, Italy 2021

2021 Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo Piedmont Italy

In the hills of La Morra, where Nebbiolo finds its most articulate voice, Renato Ratti Marcenasco stands as both history and living expression. Long before “cru” entered Barolo’s common vocabulary, Ratti was mapping the Langhe with conviction, arguing that each hillside possessed a distinct identity. Marcenasco became the clearest proof of that belief.

 

The vineyard itself carries documented depth, its name appearing in records that trace Nebbiolo cultivation here back centuries. From these rolling slopes, Marcenasco expresses La Morra’s defining signature: aromatic precision, measured authority, and a tensile structure that lingers well beyond the first impression. It is elegance anchored by underlying strength.

 

In the cellar, tradition sharpens rather than softens that identity. The 2021 matures for about two years in oak barrels before an additional year of bottle refinement, building structure while preserving aromatic detail. The aging shapes the wine without imprinting upon it. What remains is unmistakably Marcenasco, a Barolo rooted in place, lineage, and disciplined craft.

Renato Ratti
Marcenasco Barolo
Piedmont, Italy 2021

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“Assertive aromas of graphite, violets, mint and chalky minerality. A stunning, precise wine focused on elegance, with citrus flavors, a full body and lavish, velvety tannins supported by freshness. Long, youthful and savory aftertaste. Try from 2026, but best after 2030.”

97 Points

2018 Figli Luigi Oddero Convento Barolo Piedmont Italy

2018 Figli Luigi Oddero Convento Barolo Piedmont Italy

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Figli Luigi Oddero

Convento Barolo
Piedmont, Italy 2018

2018 Figli Luigi Oddero Convento Barolo Piedmont Italy

Convento Barolo intertwines the rich legacy of tradition with the profound influence of its terroir, yielding a wine that blends Barolo’s innate nobility with a remarkable value rarely encountered in bottles of this stature. Crafted under the expert guidance of Dante Scaglioni—whose 25 years as winemaker shaped the illustrious Bruno Giacosa wines—this creation draws from a deep well of heritage and masterful artistry.

Barolo has long been revered as the “King of Wines and the Wine of Kings,” a distinction earned through its commanding structure, vibrant acidity, and firm tannins, which ensure a graceful evolution over decades. The 2018 Convento Barolo upholds this heritage with distinction. Its complexity unfurls in layers of dark cherry, crushed violets, and the earthy aroma of forest floor, interwoven with subtle hints of anise, leather, and a hint of truffle.

Figli Luigi Oddero is more than a winery; it is a custodian of Piemonte’s past and a beacon for its future. Since the early 1800s, the family has tended the land that would come to shape Barolo’s very identity. Drawn primarily from La Morra, one of the region’s most celebrated terroirs, the 2018 Convento Barolo achieves a rare balance of lineage, craftsmanship, and accessibility. Priced under $50, it offers an effortless opportunity to enjoy one of Italy’s most treasured wines with confidence.

Figli Luigi Oddero
Convento Barolo
Piedmont, Italy 2018

Your Price: $49.99

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“The Figli Luigi Oddero 2018 Barolo “Convento” opens with inviting aromas of dried rose petals, red cherries, and ripe strawberries, with hints of licorice, tar, and dried herbs. On the palate, flavors of black tea, leather, and sweet spices emerge alongside subtle earthy undertones. The wine is vibrant and structured, with firm, refined tannins and a lively acidity that carries through the finish. While already approachable, this wine will continue to develop over the next decade or more.”

94 Points

2020 Giulia Negri Cru Borolo La Tartufaia La Morra Piedmont Italy

2020 Giulia Negri Cru Borolo La Tartufaia La Morra Piedmont Italy

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Giulia Negri

Cru Barolo 2020
La Tartufaia, La Morra
Piedmont, Italy

2020 Giulia Negri Cru Borolo La Tartufaia La Morra Piedmont Italy

Since the 1880s, the Diatto-Negri family has crafted exceptional Barolo from the renown slopes of Serradenari. Today, Giulia Negri carries on this noble tradition, producing wines embodying this celebrated terroir’s depth, complexity, and finesse.

Serradenari, the highest Cru of La Morra, is known for its expressive, elegant Nebbiolo. This unique microclimate, characterized by high altitude and Tortonian soils rich in clay, loam, and sand, imparts remarkable acidity and elegance to the wines. The vineyard’s proximity to Alba’s white truffle grounds adds an intriguing earthy dimension.

Giulia’s 2020 La Tartufaia Barolo is a testament to this terroir and its truffle-laden heritage. Each vine is meticulously tended, and the grapes are harvested at the peak of ripeness. The wine is crafted with a gentle touch, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and aged for 24 months in traditional Slavonian oak barrels. The result is a harmonious blend of power and refinement, with layers of red fruit, spice, and earthy truffle notes.

Giulia Negri
Cru Barolo 2020
La Tartufaia, La Morra
Piedmont, Italy
Retails at: $80

Your Price: $75

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“This wine is deeply rooted in terroir, exuding a tapestry of forest floor, tar, earthy clay, and a range of medicinal herbs. Crushed cherries and raspberries move between the more savory note gently lifting the wine. Structured with vibrant acidity that lifts the tart red fruit flavors across the palate as fresh herbs and pine needle accents add to the complex nature of this wine. Drink 2026 – 2045”

94 Points

2019 Diego Conterno Barolo Monforte D'Alba

2019 Diego Conterno Barolo Monforte D’Alba

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DIEGO CONTERNO

BAROLO 2019
MONFORTE D’ALBA

2019 Diego Conterno Barolo Monforte D'Alba

Under the mentorship of Piedmontese luminary winemaker Beppe Colla, Diego Conterno honed his winemaking skills at the Prunotto Winery. In 1982, he and his cousins started their winery, where Diego worked for nearly two decades, further developing his winemaking signature. 

In 2000, Diego began a winemaking journey all on his own with a five-acre plot in Ginestra, one of Barolo’s named cru growing sites. Today, Diego and his son Stefano run the winery, holding an esteemed reputation for producing Nebbiolo wines. 

The 2019 Barolo comes from a selection of fruit from estate vineyards in Bricco San Pietro, San Giovanni, and Ginestra, each vinified separately and aged to perfection in a combination of traditional botti and cement tank for 30 months. 

DIEGO CONTERNO
BAROLO 2019
MONFORTE D’ALBA

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“Lifted with blood orange citrus, the 2019 Barolo Del Comune Di Monforte D’Alba is spiced with clove, menthol, and cherry. It is medium to full bodied, with fine tannins, a fresh spine of acidity, and raspberry, dusty earth, and fresh peach. I love the balance of its structure and its refined texture. This is an outstanding effort to drink 2024-2044.”

95 Points

2018 Diego E Damiano Barale Barolo Piedmont Italy

2018 Diego E Damiano Barale Barolo Piedmont Italy

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DIEGO E DAMIANO BARALE

BAROLO 2018
PIEDMONT, ITALY

2018 Diego E Damiano Barale Barolo Piedmont Italy
Brothers Diego and Damiano Barale are a viticultural and winemaking powerhouse after spending valuable time learning the tricks of the trade. Working together, they use their combined education and practical knowledge to produce outstanding wines. Though their company is relatively new, the land they inherited from their father in Barolo and Monforte d’Alba has historical roots in the heart of superior grape-growing regions in Piedmont. 
 
This Barolo is a selection of old and young vineyards, matured for 20 months in oak and another 18 in the bottle before being released to the market. The 2018 growing season was a fertile vintage with no drought concerns, resulting in vines developing healthy canopies of balanced fruit, noticeable in the wine’s acidity-to-alcohol ratio and the mature, supple tannin structure.
 
DIEGO E DAMIANO BARALE
BAROLO 2018
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at: $55
 
 
 
“Just mid ruby with orange tinges. An amplification of their very pretty Langhe Nebbiolo, with more inherent richness but the same minerality, but now wrapped up in sweetly perfumed raspberry fruit. Supple, long and persistent, the fruit on the finish is carried by a fine, long tannic trail. Long, finely balanced and with real depth and with just a touch of oak.”
17++/20
2018 Bruna Grimaldi Camilla Barolo Piedmont Italy

221118 2018 Bruna Grimaldi Camilla Barolo Piedmont Italy

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BRUNA GRIMALDI

CAMILLA BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY 2018

2018 Bruna Grimaldi Camilla Barolo Piedmont Italy
Bruna Grimaldi and her husband Franco Fioriono grew up in the hills that join Grinzane Cavour to Serralunga d’Alba, where grape growing and high-quality wine production are a big part of family traditions. The Camilla Barolo is made in a classic style with extended maceration to gently extract color, tannins, and the aromatics essential for high-quality Nebbiolo wines with long aging potential.
 
The fruit comes from specially selected vineyards, including the famed Badarina in Serralunga that belonged to Bruna’s mother, the Bricco Ambrogio site Bruna and Franco purchased in Roddi, and the Grimaldi family’s original property in Grinzane Cavour. The regional blending incorporates harmony and balance in the wine, aged in large Slavonian oak barrels and French oak tonneaux for a minimum of 30 months before being further matured in the bottle before release. These techniques create a compelling wine with an impressive range of diverse flavors and complexity.
 
BRUNA GRIMALDI
CAMILLA BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY 2018
Retails at: $50
 
Your Price: $42
 
 
“This is an ambitious, all-encompassing blend that is especially accessible in 2018. It offers a harmonious bouquet with wild berry and rose. The tannins are soft and yielding, and you can start enjoying this Barolo without waiting too much longer.”
91 Points
2017 Pecchenino Barolo San Giuseppe

2017 Pecchenino Barolo San Giuseppe

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PECCHENINO

BAROLO 2017
SAN GIUSEPPE

2017 Pecchenino Barolo San Giuseppe
The same family has run Pecchenino Winery since the end of the 20th century. They own 86 acres of vineyards in Dogliani, Bossolasco, and Monforte d’Alba, where they have a modern winery dedicated to Barolo production. The vineyards within Monforte d’Alba cover several different Menzione Geografica Aggiuntivas (MGAs), which are specially delineated areas of Barolo similar to a French cru and represent quality and distinction.
 
The age of the vines is between 15 and 40 years, giving a complex range of fruit, spice, and earth components further enhanced by 24 months in large casks and 12 months in cement tanks. The wine is a signature classic of the region on the palate with a rustic, robust structure, intense flavors, and silky tannins, resulting in this bottle being the first emptied at our recent tasting and one that you won’t want to miss.
 
PECCHENINO
BAROLO 2017
SAN GIUSEPPE
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $59.99
 
 
“A rather soft and rich young Barolo with strawberry and floral character and hints of watermelon. It’s full-bodied and layered. Rich finish. So attractive now, but will age nicely. Try after 2023.”
94 Points
2015 Monchiero Barolo Piedmont Italy

2015 Monchiero Barolo Piedmont Italy

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MONCHIERO

2015 BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY

2015 Monchiero Barolo Piedmont Italy
The Monchiero winery was established by Vittorio Monchiero’s grandfather, who decided to stay in the Langhe after World War II to tend to his treasured land, unlike his six brothers who left Italy for the United States. Vittorio took over the winery at the end of the 1980s and began examining each plot and replanting vines as necessary, adapting his vineyards to modern agriculture, which is reflective in the balance of his wines.
 
Vittorio aims to bring modernity into the vineyards and winery without losing the traditions that helped shape the historic region and its wines for centuries. The 2015 Barolo is divine and elegant with excellent fruit concentration accented with minerality, earth, and spice, producing a quality level rarely found for less than $50.
 
MONCHIERO
2015 BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at: $50
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“A red showing ripe-berry and chocolate character with polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Medium to full body. Intense and focused ending. Drink after 2021.” 
92 Points
2016 Franco Serra Barolo Piedmont, Italy

2016 Franco Serra Barolo Piedmont, Italy

with No Comment $30-$40BaroloBaroloKevin VogtPiedmontUSA

FRANCO SERRA

2016 BAROLO 
PIEDMONT, ITALY 

2016 Franco Serra Barolo Piedmont, Italy
Revered for having captivating power, thought-provoking definition, confident energy, and graceful delivery, Barolo is one of the world’s great wines. Many start around $60, and in vintages like 2016, which the Wine Spectator rates as the best in more than two decades, even entry-level Barolos can be memorable and profound. We estimated Franco Serra’s 2016 Barolo to be around $65, and we loved it at that price. When we found out we could offer it to you at $38, we seized the opportunity. 
 
Keenly focused on tradition, the Sperone family brings four generations of experience to Franco Serra. Proudly intent on producing wines of distinction and value, the family owns and farms 75 acres of prime vineyards outside Monferrato. 
 
Franco Serra Barolo is classically styled, detailing the vintage hallmarks with vibrancy, balance, and refinement. The wine spends a full three years in oak, and with time in the bottle, the wine perfectly balances intensity and grace.
 
FRANCO SERRA
2016 BAROLO 
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at: $42
 
Your Price: $38
 
 
“Aromas of plums, cherries and ash with hints of tea and toffee follow through to a full body with layered, chewy tannins and lots of chocolate and walnuts at the finish…”
94 Points
2016 Franco Serra Barolo Piedmont, Italy

2016 Franco Serra Barolo Piedmont, Italy

with No Comment $30-$40BaroloBaroloItalyKevin VogtPiedmont

FRANCO SERRA

2016 BAROLO 
PIEDMONT, ITALY 

2016 Franco Serra Barolo Piedmont, Italy
Revered for having captivating power, thought-provoking definition, confident energy, and graceful delivery, Barolo is one of the world’s great wines. Many start around $60, and in vintages like 2016, which the Wine Spectator rates as the best in more than two decades, even entry-level Barolos can be memorable and profound. We estimated Franco Serra’s 2016 Barolo to be around $65, and we loved it at that price. When we found out we could offer it to you at $38, we seized the opportunity. 
 
Keenly focused on tradition, the Sperone family brings four generations of experience to Franco Serra. Proudly intent on producing wines of distinction and value, the family owns and farms 75 acres of prime vineyards outside Monferrato. 
 
Franco Serra Barolo is classically styled, detailing the vintage hallmarks with vibrancy, balance, and refinement. The wine spends a full three years in oak, and with time in the bottle, the wine perfectly balances intensity and grace.
 
FRANCO SERRA
2016 BAROLO 
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at: $42
 
Your Price: $38
 
 
“Aromas of plums, cherries and ash with hints of tea and toffee follow through to a full body with layered, chewy tannins and lots of chocolate and walnuts at the finish…”
94 Points