Enigmatic, structured and powerful, Barolo wines have long won praise from the JamesSuckling.com tasting team. The thin-skinned grape they come from, nebbiolo, is fickle and picky, and although the wines’ pale garnet hue leaves something to be desired in the color department, these wines are tannic, high in acidity, complex and some of the most age-worthy on the planet.
One of the great modern vintages for Barolo was 2015. While the summer that year was hot and dry, water reserves from winter snow and spring rain reduced hydric stress, and light rain in October refreshed the vines before harvest. This resulted in vibrant, exuberantly fragrant Barolos with red fruit flavors accompanied by powerful yet fine tannins, with great balance and focus. We described 2015 in a special report as the vintage that “delivered wines that fully encapsulate all that is great about nebbiolo.”
