Last Chance at Drink-Now 2016 Barolos!
With the "official' 2016 Barolo campaign now over, I thought it would be fun to take a look around to see what I should start drinking! What I found were several entry level Barolos -- all under $40 with today's discounts -- that have now already had the benefit of about one year of cellaring. This is just enough time for the wines to unwind a little and start showing off the greatness of the vintage.
Most of these wines I have offered before, and then I was pleased to discover that more had arrived from Italy. There are also a couple of new ones here. All of them are delicious, inexpensive and ready to start drinking -- although another year or two in the cellar will certainly result in further improvement.
I can't say that this will be your last opportunity to buy 2016 Barolo -- I'll be hunting for the rest of life! -- but this may well be the last chance you have to buy this sort of inexpensive everyday Barolo at discounted release prices.
Although I have at least 10 cases of each wine they will go fast so please don't hesitate. Click through now to start shopping or read below for further details. If you do click through and you don't see the wine you want, it may already be sold out -- feel free to email me and I'll see if there's anything I can do.
Shop the collection of Ready-to-drink 2016 Barolo.
Reviews are by Antonio Galloni (AG) in Vinous or Monica Larner (ML) in the Wine Advocate.
Gianfranco Alessandria, Barolo, 2016
AG: "The 2016 Barolo is bright, floral and beautifully lifted. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry and mint all grace this subtle, nuanced Barolo. Medium in body, with lovely freshness and good depth, the 2016 has so much to offer. This is a very pretty, and refined straight Barolo. The 2016 has the potential to be a real overachiever. I especially like the wine's inner sweetness and perfume. 93"
Not reviewed by AG, but this is a treasure. Boasso is a jewel of a tiny family-run estate that makes wine exclusively in the village of Serralunga using old-school methods. Apart from Cappellano -- another old-schooler -- they make the only single-Cru Gabutti that I am aware of...and it's under $40! Just approachable now, this has a remarkable amount of upside potential for the price point.
AG:"Azelia's 2016 Barolo is a blend of fruit from two parcels in Castiglione Falletto and five in Serralunga, with the character of Serralunga especially felt in the wine's tannic grip and persistence. Iron, sage, mint, smoke and wild cherry give the Barolo striking aromatic nuance and complexity, all in the mid-weight style that is such a signature at this address. The purity of the fruit is just striking. Stated simply, this is a tremendous wine in its peer group. 93"
AG: "Vajra's Barolo Albe is bright, floral and wonderfully lifted in 2016. Sweet tobacco, cedar, blood orange, mint, licorice, dried red cherry and sage give the 2016 lovely savory brightness to match its mid-weight structure. Gracious and light on its feet, the Albe has so much to offer. 91"
ML: "Made with organically farmed fruit, the Giacomo Brezza e Figli 2016 Barolo is open and ready to go. If you anticipated some reduction, there is none to be found, although I did open my bottle a few hours before tasting (as I did all the samples in this report). There is some youthful tightness here with sour cherry, almond, cola and a ferrous or earthy quality. I would suggest another few years to allow the wine to flesh out further.. 91"
