2010 Vietti, Barolo “Castiglione” DOCG, Piedmonte, Italy.
Vietti has become one of the major players in Italian wine, they hold the most Cru Barolo acreage and Luca Currado is one of the most prolific winemakers of his generation, influencing wine not just from his own region, but in many places across Italy and beyond. The latest Castiglione Barolo is deep and lush, this is one of the most complete and generous of the 2010 vintage that I’ve tried as of yet, it offers a look into the future, but still drinks fantastic now even. Vietti’s style is forward, but there is poise, grace and class too, it is hard to find fault here, you’ll love the textural pleasure, compelling fruit and dense complexity, everything is vivid, transparent and perfectly displayed, especially from such a young and powerful wine. The 2019 Vietti barolo Castiglione starts with a bouquet of wilted roses, spring blossoms, sweet morello cherry/liqueur, a hint of game, mineral and smoke leading to a lavish palate of rich raspberry, damson plum and strawberry fruits along with a mix of savory crushed stones, soy sauce, minty herbs and cured meat plus cedar, black licorice and fig paste. Look for lots of intriguing development and added layers to form over the next 3 to 5 years, it still has plenty of tannin and lifting acidity to hold firm, even though you’d be tempted to open this beauty it still would be best to show some patience, drink from 2017 to 2023.
($50 Est.) 93+ Points, grapelive