Vinous (91)

The 2018 Barolo Cicala is a very good wine for the year. It offers good depth and intensity, in a slightly dialed back style that is typical of the vintage. More than anything else, the Cicala is impeccable in its balance. All the Cicala signatures are present, they are just quieter than usual. Black cherry, scorched earth, graphite, spice and oak all meld together. Best of all, the 2018 can be enjoyed with only minimal cellaring.

James Suckling (97)

Freshly cut flowers with strawberry, peach and orange peel aromas that follow through to a full body with layers of velvety tannins, that have a fine texture and give a refined yet voluptuous mouthfeel. It shows class and harmony for this tannic vintage. Drink after 2027.

Matthew Jukes (19.5)

When they started co-fermenting this wine in 2005, it offered an integration and balance to this label that was missing when it was previously a blended wine. This is never more evident than in this incredible wine. The nose is utterly stunning a mere two and half years after my first taste, and it can only be described as a stellar creation. While the palate is closed, contemplative, hugely dense, and imposing, the link between the floral, tobacco, tea, and chypre-soaked nose and the extraordinary palate is gripping. There is no gap between perfume and palate ? no truck and trailer, just impeccable limousine. Sensational.

Matthew Jukes (19.5)

The more powerful and structured elements are kept to the back of the palate, and you are afforded a very generous five or so seconds to revel in the luxuriousness of the indulgent fruit notes before the tannins swarm in and add a shockingly crunchy finish. There is so much red fruit (and not as much obvious Romirasco black fruit) than I expected, and there is impressive anti-fruit sappiness coming from the earth, trunk and powerful surrounding vineyard nuances. I am not surprised that this is such an arresting wine, but its overriding character is one of silkiness coupled with phenomenal freshness on the finish.

Vinous (97)

The 2015 Barolo is outrageously beautiful. Best of all, it will drink well with minimal cellaring. Rich, sumptuous and super-expressive, the 2015 is such a showy and expressive wine. Bright red cherry, red plum, blood orange, mint, star anise and dried flowers are all given an extra kick of textural richness in this flashy, exceptionally ripe Barolo. I loved it.

Wine Advocate (100)

This is the stuff of dreams. Tasted so young, I did a lot of coaxing to nudge the wine along, thanks to a double decant and a few extra hours in an open bottle. I tasted both samples I had over the course of a few weeks. Those efforts served well, but the wine remains packed tight and full of nervous energy regardless, indicating that its true potential won't be seen for another 10 or 20 years, or likely more. The Bartolo Mascarello 2016 Barolo is a true icon of the vintage. The approach is elongated and silky, like lifting honey from a jar. The aromas are chiseled and focused with wild berry, licorice, candied orange peel, campfire ash, rusted iron, crushed graphite and pencil shaving. The wine's personality is downplayed, elegant and demure in one tasting but exuberant and expressive in the next. The tannins show snap and crunch, indicating they will drive the wine forward over many years of cellar age. This is one of those rare wines that is poised to improve with each increment of time. Structurally, it is perfect. If we were to create a template for an aspirational Barolo, this would be it.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Mesmerizing aromas of violet, rose, perfumed berry and dried aromatic herb mingle together with a whiff of forest floor in this compelling wine. Full-bodied, elegant and delicious, the structured palate delivers ripe Morello cherry, cranberry, licorice and tobacco framed in youthfully assertive but refined tannins. It closes on a tangy mineral note. Drink 2027–2037.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Camphor, star anise, tobacco and underbrush are just some of the aromas you'll find on this stunning red. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the savory palate doles out ripe Marasca cherry, rasberry compote, baking spice and licorice set against youthfully assertive, noble tannins. Give it time to fully develop. Drink 2027–2037.

Vinous (96)

The 2013 Barbaresco Maria Adelaide is a selection of the best fruit from both Rabajà and Currà. It is also the most overtly ample and creamy of these wines. Here, too, the wine's balance is simply compelling. Moreover, the natural power of Rabajà and the nerve of Currà are hugely complementary. The 2013 spent eighteen months in French oak. So much has changed here over the last few years. The Maria Adelaide remains the Barbaresco that is most closely linked to the wines Bruno Rocca made when he was solely in charge of the estate.

Vinous (95)

The 2012 Barbaresco Riserva Currà is a real knockout. Intense, sweet and beautifully perfumed, the 2012 offers a super-classic expression of this Neive vineyard. Twenty four months in oak have helped soften some of the angular contours the 2012 had when it was younger. Hints of orange peel, white pepper, dried herbs and cherries linger on the exotic, beguiling finish. What a gorgeous wine this is. The 2012 spent 22 months in cask. To be released in 2017.

Vinous (94+)

Rocca's 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Currà is bright and beautifully focused, with beams of Currà tension that lift up the sweet red cherry fruit. Rose petal, kirsch, mint and citrus peel add to the wine's energy and overall sense of drive. The 2014 is a very pretty wine, but it might have been even better with a bit less time in cask. Medium in body and slightly nervous, the 2014 opens up nicely with time in the glass. I very much like the tension and energy here.

Vinous (94)

The 2019 Barolo Acclivi is a very serious wine in this range. It possesses a gorgeous core and tons of supporting structure. I would give the 2019 at least a few years in bottle, as it really needs that time to release its aromatics. I have seen this wine blossom with cellaring, and imagine that will be the case here as well. Today, the Acclivi is quite closed, but time in the glass releases gorgeous red fruit and blood orange character. Although the Acclivi is not as coveted as the Cannubi or Monvigliero, it is an important wine in its own right, as several recent bottles of the 2006 showed. Think of it like Rousseau's Clos Saint-Jacques relative to the Chambertin and Beze.

Vinous (95)

The 2012 Barolo Cannubi is a little bit darker than Burlotto's Verduno Barolos, with all of the striking mid-palate silkiness and creaminess that is such a signature of Cannubi. Beguiling and totally seamless, the 2012 feels like velvet on the palate. The exquisitely layered, seamless finish is a thing of beauty. Burlottos' Cannubi doesn't get a lot of play, perhaps because it was made in a more modern style up until a few years ago, but it has all the pedigree of the better known wines in this range. The 2012 is superb.

Vinous (97+)

Burlotto’s 2013 Barolo Cannubi is a showstopper. Literally. Conversation stops as attendees taste the 2013. This is what top-flight Barolo is all about. In 2013, the Monvigliero has gotten most of the attention, and for good reason. It is a truly monumental wine. But the Cannubi is not that far behind. On this night, it is positively dazzling and every bit as profound as it has always been. The Cannubi has really soared in recent years as proprietor Fabio Alessandria has brought it inline stylistically with his other wines.

Vinous (96)

The 2018 Barolo Monvigliero is the most reticent of these 2018 Barolos, but it was also bottled nearly a year later. All the signatures are there, though, starting with the effusive bouquet that makes the Burlotto Monvigliero so alluring. Rose petal, spice, orange peel, kirsch and raspberry unfurl gradually in the glass. The 2018 is understated and mysterious today. I can't wait to see how it ages.

Vinous (99)

The 2019 Barolo Monvigliero is a knock-out. What a wine. Rich and layered in the glass, with striking textural intensity, the 2019 unfurls beautifully with a bit of coaxing. All the elements are so well put together for a young wine. Crushed rose petal, mint, sage, rose petal and sweet pipe tobacco lend striking nuance to this dynamic, vibrant Barolo. The 2019 is quite simply magnificent. Its splendor only grows over time.

Vinous (95+)

An absolute stunner, the 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Asili, emerges from the glass with a mélange of exotic, beguiling aromatics. Lavender, pine, rose petal, savory herbs and melted road tar form a fabric of nearly indescribable beauty. Proprietor Giulio Grasso elected to leave the wine on its skins until the end of November. Power and finesse have never been so seamless here. Although just bottled, the 2011 Asili Riserva is a great wine in the making.

Embark on an exquisite wine journey with the Cascina Fontana Barolo Castiglione Falletto 2015. Crafted in the verdant vineyards of Italy's renowned region of Castiglione Falletto, this wine exhibits the hallmark features of its Barolo origin. Winemaker Mario Fontana, a sixth-generation family producer, meticulously hand harvests Nebbiolo grapes and ages the wine for at least 30 months in Slavonian oak barrels. The result is a wine of deep ruby red colour, possessing robust complexity and pronounced tannins.

The Cascina Fontana Barolo Castiglione Falletto 2015 exhibits enchanting aromatic layers of dried rose petal, wild berry, dark licorice, crushed herb and balsamic notes. On the palate, it offers a full-bodied taste, underscored by a harmonious blend of acidity and tannic richness. Rounded off with a lingering finish, this wine is a testament to Fontana's admirable dedication to organic farming and traditional winemaking techniques. Enjoy the pinnacle of Italian viticulture with the Cascina Fontana Barolo Castiglione Falletto 2015.

Immerse yourself in the rich, glorious flavours of the Cascina Fontana Barolo Castiglione Falletto 2016, a fine example of Italian meticulous craftsmanship. Birthed in the revered vineyards of Castiglione Falletto in Piedmont, this wine encapsulates the passion of the Fontana family who have cultivated these lands for six generations.

This exceptional Barolo is a tribute to traditional vinification methods. Aged for three years in large Slavonian oak barrels, it exudes elegance and finesse. With an alluring garnet hue, it fascinates with a complex bouquet of ripe red fruits, floral notes and undertones of sweet spices. The well-integrated tannins and a meticulous balance of acidity render a long-lasting and satisfying finish, making the Cascina Fontana Barolo Castiglione Falletto 2016 an exquisite companion to robust dishes.

Imbibe in the legacy of the Fontana family, and indulge in the intricate dance of fruit and spice that distinguishes the Cascina Fontana Barolo Castiglione Falletto 2016.

Vinous (92+)

Cavallotto’s 2018 Barolo Bricco Boschis is a powerhouse. A blast of sweet dark cherry, menthol, licorice, gravel and incense hits the palate. Youthful and quite strapping in terms of its presence, the 2018 holds quite a bit of promise. That’s the good news. But readers will have to be patient, as the tannins are quite searing at this stage for a wine that has typically been a bit more forthcoming. This is an especially serious edition of the Bricco Boschis Barolo.

Vinous (95)

The 2013 Barbaresco Serracapelli Dedicato a Paolo emerges from the estate's oldest vines, planted in 1956. Deep and sensual, with striking layers of nuance, the 2013 hits all the right notes. Readers will find a lifted, savory, intensely mineral Barbaresco built on persistence and energy. Tobacco, worn-in leather, spice, menthol and crushed rose petal add myriad shades of complexity. The 2013 can be enjoyed now, but it also has enough pedigree to drink well for another decade.