Review from James Suckling - 96 pts

From the Wine Producer:

This first release of Vietti’s Barolo “Riserva” is the result of a “selection within the selection”: while working on composing the blend of the Barolo ‘Castiglione’, we have been impressed by some of those wines coming from specific single parcels of Cru vineyards, for their combination of intensity paired with elegance and good tannic structure, representing a very good ageing potential. This has led to our decision to blend and bottle this wine separately. Only some 5.000 bottles of this Barolo Riserva have been produced.

Vineyard: A selection of only a few small vineyard parcels, for the 2015 vintage all located on various sites in
the municipality of Castiglione Falletto.

Geology: calcareous marl. The age of the grapevines is between 25 and 45 years, they are trained in the Guyot trellis system, with an average density of about 4,500 plants per hectare.

Winemaking: All single vineyard parcels are harvested, vinified and aged separately, each of them with a different individual winemaking procedure, with the aim to highlight the typical characteristics of their specific “terroir”.
Hand-picked in early October 2015, the grapes have been destemmed and gently crushed before bringing them into stainless steel tanks for the alcoholic fermentation. They have spent between three to four weeks in contact with their skins.
This time includes the cold pre- and the post-fermentation maceration, using the traditional submerged cap method. Malolactic fermentation takes place in oak.

Ageing: The wine has been aged for about 30 months in large oak casks. After this all parcels are carefully blended before bottling.

Descrizione: Medium-intense ruby red colour. On the nose a very complex aromatic expression with notes of truffle and forest underbrush as well as ripe red and black fruit (cherry, blackberry, prunes and figs), balsamic nuances. On the palate it is medium-bodied, quite rich and powerful. The tannins are well-integrated in the fruit structure of the wine. A lively acidity uplifts the profoundness of the wine. Well balanced. Long lingering aftertaste.

Food pairings: Stewed meats, wild game, read meats and seasoned cheeses.