Wine Spectator Grand Tour (Las Vegas, NV): Sourced from the hillside Ravera Vineyard in the village of Novello, this medium garnet Barolo is impressive from the get-go. On the nose, it offers an aromatic array of red bramble fruits, blood oranges, dried apricots, licorice, violets, allspice and savory herbs. Medium-to-full-bodied, seamlessly alcoholic (14.5%) and with lively acids, it delivers flavors mirroring the aromas, adding a prominent graphite thread on the mid-palate. Aged for 32 months in used oak foudres, this wine has a modicum of wood that complements but does not overwhelm the flavors. The powdery tannins are plentiful at this point, flexing a bit of grip on the lengthy finish. This classic-quality Barolo can be enjoyed now, but those having the patience will benefit by leaving it in the cellar for a few more years. Drink 2029-2049.
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Decanted for an hour and enjoyed with friends at our housewarming. The aromas were sublime from the moment we opened this bottle. The aromatic notes were diverse, featuring herbal elements, crushed medium-dark berries, and a distinctive orange peel undertone. As for the palate, it offered intriguing layers of plum, wet tobacco leaves, tar, and mint tea. However, at times, the presence of wet mint tea leaves was overwhelming. It felt like I was taking a bath in mint tea leaves. I never encountered enough acidity or brighter red berries here, which was disappointing. The strong tannins also posed a challenge, masking many of the wine's elements. I had high expectations for this bottle but was left a little let down. I think this needs at least 5-10 years for everything to mellow out. There's a lot of potential here. 94-95
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Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri Tasting (Bridgeport Arts Center - Chicago IL): Walkaround tasting with the producers. The kind of Barolo I enjoy, this isn't shy about its ripeness, but equally emphasizes its textural brightness. Lots here, this needs at least a decade in the cellar, two decades would be better.
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Tasted at Wine & Spirits Top 100, NYC. More fully traditional in style than the previously tasted Castiglione. Fresh, mid-weight, elegant, classic. High tannin and acidity, energetic. Cherry fruit highlights good complexity, but this taste seemed still quite tight and in need of air. Finish? Seems shorter than it should be. Beautiful wine, but after tasting many 2019 Barolo over the last year or so, this does not rise to perfection (i.e. 100 points VM) like too many modern critics scores seem to be too generous producing. Certainly not a good QPR in my book. There are equally delicious 2019 Barolo available for half the price or less.
Complex aromatics of rose petals, raspberry, rhubarb and floral spice. The palate is full, round and unctuous, with great fruit intensity and good underlying minerality. Tannins are ripe and boot in late on the extremely long finish.
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The '19 Ravera is an insanely beautiful young wine. I was shocked by the level of finesse and the expressiveness of the Ravera at such a young age, as I think of the Vietti Ravera as a wine that needs time.
The nose was super expressive with fresh red roses, exotic blood orange tones, fresh red berry fruit, minerality, and dark herbal tones like lavender. The tone of the fruit on the nose was really beautiful, suggesting a hard-candy like sweetness.
On the palate, the wine is super concentrated but with very refined tannins. The refined texture and bright acidity and flavor profile allow it to drink very well even now. Bright red berry fruit, saline minerality, blood orange peel, exotic spices, red florals, and a touch of chalk flow across the palate. There's so much energy here, it is a thrilling wine to taste.
This is about as good a young Barolo as I've tasted.
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5/4/2024 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tour (Las Vegas, NV): Sourced from the hillside Ravera Vineyard in the village of Novello, this medium garnet Barolo is impressive from the get-go. On the nose, it offers an aromatic array of red bramble fruits, blood oranges, dried apricots, licorice, violets, allspice and savory herbs. Medium-to-full-bodied, seamlessly alcoholic (14.5%) and with lively acids, it delivers flavors mirroring the aromas, adding a prominent graphite thread on the mid-palate. Aged for 32 months in used oak foudres, this wine has a modicum of wood that complements but does not overwhelm the flavors. The powdery tannins are plentiful at this point, flexing a bit of grip on the lengthy finish. This classic-quality Barolo can be enjoyed now, but those having the patience will benefit by leaving it in the cellar for a few more years. Drink 2029-2049.
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3/21/2024 - connorpksmith Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for an hour and enjoyed with friends at our housewarming. The aromas were sublime from the moment we opened this bottle. The aromatic notes were diverse, featuring herbal elements, crushed medium-dark berries, and a distinctive orange peel undertone. As for the palate, it offered intriguing layers of plum, wet tobacco leaves, tar, and mint tea. However, at times, the presence of wet mint tea leaves was overwhelming. It felt like I was taking a bath in mint tea leaves. I never encountered enough acidity or brighter red berries here, which was disappointing. The strong tannins also posed a challenge, masking many of the wine's elements. I had high expectations for this bottle but was left a little let down. I think this needs at least 5-10 years for everything to mellow out. There's a lot of potential here. 94-95
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2/21/2024 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri Tasting (Bridgeport Arts Center - Chicago IL): Walkaround tasting with the producers. The kind of Barolo I enjoy, this isn't shy about its ripeness, but equally emphasizes its textural brightness. Lots here, this needs at least a decade in the cellar, two decades would be better.
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2/15/2024 - oldwines Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted at Wine & Spirits Top 100, NYC. More fully traditional in style than the previously tasted Castiglione. Fresh, mid-weight, elegant, classic. High tannin and acidity, energetic. Cherry fruit highlights good complexity, but this taste seemed still quite tight and in need of air. Finish? Seems shorter than it should be. Beautiful wine, but after tasting many 2019 Barolo over the last year or so, this does not rise to perfection (i.e. 100 points VM) like too many modern critics scores seem to be too generous producing. Certainly not a good QPR in my book. There are equally delicious 2019 Barolo available for half the price or less.
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1/31/2024 - BGHouse Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. Wait several years if you own some (if you can).
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10/16/2023 - MattMauldin Likes this wine:
Wine & Spirits Top 100 Wineries Tasting Event - Quick Impressions - Oct 11: Fig and pomegranate, hibiscus, anise, mushroom. Full complexity and depth, refined and round, firm density, big impact.
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5/19/2023 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Complex aromatics of rose petals, raspberry, rhubarb and floral spice. The palate is full, round and unctuous, with great fruit intensity and good underlying minerality. Tannins are ripe and boot in late on the extremely long finish.
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3/22/2023 - Robmcl920 Likes this wine: 98 Points
The '19 Ravera is an insanely beautiful young wine. I was shocked by the level of finesse and the expressiveness of the Ravera at such a young age, as I think of the Vietti Ravera as a wine that needs time.
The nose was super expressive with fresh red roses, exotic blood orange tones, fresh red berry fruit, minerality, and dark herbal tones like lavender. The tone of the fruit on the nose was really beautiful, suggesting a hard-candy like sweetness.
On the palate, the wine is super concentrated but with very refined tannins. The refined texture and bright acidity and flavor profile allow it to drink very well even now. Bright red berry fruit, saline minerality, blood orange peel, exotic spices, red florals, and a touch of chalk flow across the palate. There's so much energy here, it is a thrilling wine to taste.
This is about as good a young Barolo as I've tasted.
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