James Suckling (95)

A rich and velvety wine now with mushroom, ripe fruit and Christmas cake aromas and flavors. Full and opulent. Shows the richness and beauty of this delicious vintage. Perfect to drink now.

James Suckling (92)

There's definitely a dried flower and spices on the nose here, with hints of ripe fruit. Full body, with balsamic character with fine tannins and a savory finish. Turns almost meaty. Best in 2015.

Tailored to true connoisseurs, the Gigi Rosso Barolo Arione 1991 is renowned for its exceptional refinement and quality. From the esteemed vineyards of the 'Arione' area of Serralunga d'Alba, the heartland of the premium Italian Barolo wines, the Gigi Rosso winery has crafted this remarkable vintage. Harvested exclusively from Nebbiolo grapes, it delivers rich and full-bodied palate complexity, paired delightfully with soft tannins and a lingering finish.

Regarded highly by its firm commitment to traditional winemaking processes, Gigi Rosso ensures that each bottle reflects the true essence of its terroir. The Barolo Arione 1991 embraces a slow and careful fermentation; ageing takes place within Slavonian oak barrels lending distinct character to the rich garnet liquid. Celebrated as an outstanding expression of the 1991 vintage, Gigi Rosso Barolo Arione 1991 is for the discerning sipper who values fine wine with history and finesse.

Renowned for its exceptional composition and elegant nose, Giorgio Scarzello e Figli Barolo Sarmassa Merenda 2010 is a remarkable vintage. Produced in the celebrated winemaking region of Piedmont, Italy, the Nebbiolo grapes are carefully nurtured in the esteemed Scarzello vineyards in the heart of the Barolo region.

Layered with complex flavours, this exquisite wine boasts dense notes of wild cherry, ripe strawberry, and subtle tobacco, harmoniously embracing tannic structure and a lingering finish. Giorgio Scarzello, a respected vintner, has been meticulous in producing this wine, allowing it a 30-month maturation in oak barrels and further refinement in the bottle, to achieve its characteristic depth and remarkable mellowness.

The Giorgio Scarzello e Figli Barolo Sarmassa Merenda 2010 is the epitome of premium Italian wine, demonstrating an authenticity and timeless appeal that is treasured by connoisseurs worldwide. Delight in the distinguished taste of this limited-edition wine, an illustrious testament to the Scarzello family's wine-making legacy.

Vinous (92)

My initial thought was to focus on the 2013 vintage for this flight, but the Bartolo Mascarello is so young, I chose the 2012 instead. Canonica’s 2013 Barolo Paiagallo is another very pretty, translucent, classically built wine. Next to the other wines on the table, the Paiagallo comes across as a bit diffuse, with its aromatics, fruit and structure each in their own space and not woven together into a cohesive whole. The 2013 is still a delicious Barolo, but on this night, well, there are a lot of fabulous wines in the tasting.

Vinous (94)

Canonica's 2017 Barolo Paiagallo is an exotic, utterly beguiling wine. Crushed red berry, blood orange, mint, rose petal and cinnamon give this effusive, mid-weight Barolo its exotic, alluring personality. There's plenty of tannin lurking beneath. A few years of cellaring are advisable. This flamboyant, attractive Barolo is pretty impossible to resist now, though. Canonica works out of a tiny cellar in the historic center of Barolo that has just enough space for the barest essentials. The wines are always unique and idiosyncratic.

Vinous (94)

Canonica's 2017 Barolo Paiagallo is an exotic, utterly beguiling wine. Crushed red berry, blood orange, mint, rose petal and cinnamon give this effusive, mid-weight Barolo its exotic, alluring personality. There's plenty of tannin lurking beneath. A few years of cellaring are advisable. This flamboyant, attractive Barolo is pretty impossible to resist now, though. Canonica works out of a tiny cellar in the historic center of Barolo that has just enough space for the barest essentials. The wines are always unique and idiosyncratic.

Vinous (93)

The 2018 Barolo Paiagallo is laced with kirsch, sweet spice, new leather, menthol and rose petal. Exotic and super-ripe, the 2018 shows all the warmth of the year in its sweet fruit and pronounced alcohol, but avoids the angular contours that afflict so many wines. Even with all of that richness, the 2018 retains a good bit of freshness and energy. An opened bottle was still vibrant after a number of days whereas many other wines in the same tasting faded far faster. The 2018 is a very fine effort from one of Barolo's artisan growers, but readers have to be willing to accept elevated ripeness and alcohol.

Vinous (93)

The 2018 Barolo Paiagallo is laced with kirsch, sweet spice, new leather, menthol and rose petal. Exotic and super-ripe, the 2018 shows all the warmth of the year in its sweet fruit and pronounced alcohol, but avoids the angular contours that afflict so many wines. Even with all of that richness, the 2018 retains a good bit of freshness and energy. An opened bottle was still vibrant after a number of days whereas many other wines in the same tasting faded far faster. The 2018 is a very fine effort from one of Barolo's artisan growers, but readers have to be willing to accept elevated ripeness and alcohol.

Vinous (94)

The 2020 Barolo Paiagallo is deep, fleshy and imposing, with terrific balance and notable palate presence. Macerated cherry, rose petal, blood orange and chalk are all beautifully delineated. The 2020 offers gorgeous depth and tons of pure energy to match. My only quibble is with its slightly elevated alcohol. Creamy, silky tannins wrap it all together in style. This is a fine effort from one of the most reclusive growers in Barolo.

Vinous (94)

The 2020 Barolo Paiagallo is deep, fleshy and imposing, with terrific balance and notable palate presence. Macerated cherry, rose petal, blood orange and chalk are all beautifully delineated. The 2020 offers gorgeous depth and tons of pure energy to match. My only quibble is with its slightly elevated alcohol. Creamy, silky tannins wrap it all together in style. This is a fine effort from one of the most reclusive growers in Barolo.

The Giovanni Corino Barolo 1997 is a splendid vintage that resonates with a wine connoisseur's desire for quality and complexity. Produced in the famed Piedmont region of Italy, this wine is a testament to the classic Barolo style, characterised by immense structure, potent tannins, and remarkable ageing potential.

The Corino family, diligent custodians of the revered Nebbiolo grapes for four generations, have cultivated an enviable legacy in the world of fine wine. With meticulous devotion, Giovanni Corino and his sons employ time-honoured viniculture techniques to create wines that truly embody the terroir.

The 1997 vintage is encased in an explosion of bright red fruit, subtle notes of leather, and fine, mellowed tannins, signifying its ageing prowess. This magnum opus of Corino's craftsmanship reaffirms the Giovanni Corino Barolo 1997 as an icon of Italy's viticultural heritage. Relish this panoramic and textured acclamation of the Piedmont’s bountiful grace.

Vinous (88)

Good deep red. Nose currently dominated by smoky, roasted wood scents; comes across as a bit diffuse. Fat and full, but lacks clarity and precision. The tannins seem a bit aggressive today. I don't get a lot of verve. A disappointing bottle, or perhaps simply in an awkward stage.

Vinous (91)

Corino's 2003 Barolo Arborina is deep, rich and powerful. It boasts terrific depth and volume, but time has shown what was perhaps less apparent when the wines were young. Namely that Rocche is one of the greatest sites in La Morra and Arborina is not. Not even close, actually. In the Arborina we find plenty of dark red and black fruit, smoke, incense, orange peel and spices, all in a generous, slightly bombastic style. Still, the wine's balance is impeccable, especially within the context of the vintage.