deeply expressive, the Conterno Fantino Barolo Ginestra Vigna Gris 2016 is a fine red hailing from the renowned Barolo wine region in Italy. Crafted by the esteemed Conterno Fantino, this wine is a testament to meticulous viniculture. The grapes cultivated in the late harvest of 2016, were handpicked from the acclaimed 'Ginestra Vigna Gris' vineyard located in Monforte d'Alba. Potioned using traditional methods, the wine matured for 24 months in French oak barrels, encapsulating the rich essence of Nebbiolo grapes.

The result is a spectacular garnet red with a hint of orange, presenting an opulent bouquet of wild red berries, liquorice, truffle and savoury balsamic note. On the palate, it's powerful with complex tannins, well-balanced acidity and a lingering finish. Whether it's your first or fiftieth Conterno Fantino Barolo, the Ginestra Vigna Gris 2016 remains a distinguished choice for all discerning wine enthusiasts.

James Suckling (98)

The fruit feels so comfortable here, in the ripe-red zone; it ranges from cherry kernel to chocolate-coated red plums to glazed cherries. Integrated hints of bark and sandalwood. Full-bodied with strapping tannins and muscular, imposing structure and power. Notwithstanding, everything is in striking balance and delivered with remarkable precision and grit. Drink from 2026.

Wine Advocate (94+)

The classic 2016 Barolo by Domenico Clerico is a generous and full wine that offers a panoramic view of the Nebbiolo grape all in bright Technicolor and with the appropriate intensity. The wine's all-encompassing approach brings many details into focus, including wild cherry, spice, leather and ferrous soil. Fruit is exclusively from Monforte d'Alba, with some from the lower parts of Pajana and Per Cristina and some from the younger vines planted in Ciabot Mentin. This is an elegant expression with the mild oak signature that is an important part of the Clerico playlist. Camphor ash and burnt embers lift lightly as the wine opens in the glass. It ages in barrique for eight months, followed by another year in larger oak casks. Some 20,000 bottles were released.

Wine Advocate (93)

The Barbera grape can often act like Nebbiolo showing its best results in the later vintages that end on a cool note. Those conditions are what define the beautiful 2016 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Martina. The wine sees 20 days of maceration with submerged cap, and the bouquet is flowing, polished and impactful as a result. Blackberry, summer cherry and plum rise from the glass. Some 18 months of oak aging adds delicate touches of spice, leather and cedar.

Wine Advocate (93)

The Barbera grape can often act like Nebbiolo showing its best results in the later vintages that end on a cool note. Those conditions are what define the beautiful 2016 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Martina. The wine sees 20 days of maceration with submerged cap, and the bouquet is flowing, polished and impactful as a result. Blackberry, summer cherry and plum rise from the glass. Some 18 months of oak aging adds delicate touches of spice, leather and cedar.

Vinous (96.5)

The 2016 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is a vibrant, massively tannic, austere wine, the likes of which I have never tasted here before. Vertical and explosive in the glass with tons of pure power, the 2016 Gavarini Chiniera is a gorgeous Barolo that is going to need a number of years to be at its best. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of sweet red cherry fruit. White pepper, mint, orange peel and floral notes develop a bit later, but the 2016 remains reticent and inward, with brilliant acids and tannins that dominate today. The 2016 is a striking wine, but it is going to require considerable patience.

Vinous (97)

Ample and creamy on the palate, with tremendous depth, the 2016 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is super impressive, even in the early going. Next to the Gavarini Chiniera, the Ginestra Casa Matè is a Barolo of textural resonance and volume. Black cherry, plum and a range of balsamic notes infuse the 2016 with tons of character. The is one of the real standouts of the year.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2016 Barolo Riserva Rüncot is quite possibly the single greatest wine I have tasted in more than twenty years I have been coming here, with the possible exception of the 1989s and 1990s. Deep and powerful, but not at all heavy, the 2016 dazzles from the very first taste. Dark cherry/plum fruit, menthol, lavender, licorice and mocha saturate the palate in a Barolo of extraordinary richness and intensity. The 2016 spent four years in 100% new oak, and yet there is no trace at all of wood. Magnificent!

Vinous (92)

The 2016 Barbaresco Bordini is a classy, polished wine. This is an especially gracious wine from Bordini, where the Barbarescos are often bigger. Sweet spice, tobacco, menthol, licorice and cloves add lovely shades of nuance. Dark in its expression and also tightly wound, the 2016 is very nicely done. I confess, though, I would like to see a little more excitement here.

Vinous (96)

The 2016 Barolo Bricco Pernice is absolutely gorgeous. The pedigree of the year comes through in the wine's depth and stature. What a knockout. Ripe black cherry, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice, orange peel and rose petal are some of the many aromas and flavors that develop as the 2016 opens in the glass. Readers should be in no rush here. The 2017 is absolutely stellar.

Wine Enthusiast (96)

Rose, woodland berry and baking spice shape the nose along with crushed mint notes on this fragrant red. The savory, polished palate boasts succulent raspberry, ripe strawberry and white pepper before taut tannins and bright acidity reveal a firm, elegant structure. Star anise lingers on the finish. Drink 2023–2036.

Wine Advocate (97+)

Of the many great contributions made by the winemaking team at Elvio Cogno, perhaps the greatest is the importance they brought to the Ravera cru of Novello. Little-known before their efforts, this vineyard has risen in high regard in recent years and continues to show impressive potential. The 2016 Barolo Ravera offers an important education in why this site deserves the spotlight. The wine shows terrific balance and depth, with rich fruit aromas framed by smoke, tar, ferrous earth and tangy licorice. The tannins are softly contoured, and the wine moves over the palate with profound length. Interestingly, two Nebbiolo clones, Lampia and Michet, are blended to make this wine. Some 15,000 bottles are hitting the market now.

Wine Advocate (96)

The Enzo Boglietti 2016 Barolo Arione draws its fruit from Serralunga d'Alba, from a vineyard site that has gained much attention in recent years. Arione has thick silty soils and these contribute to the gentle finesse and floral perfumes of the wine. Don't forget power. There is plenty of muscle flexing in this brawny, determined Nebbiolo with firm tannins and deep structure. A mere 2,000 bottles were produced. Count on this wine to complete a long and rewarding drinking arc.

Wine Advocate (95)

The Brunate cru has a mix of soils with some heavier limestone clay that adds extra power and structure to the wines that come from this site. The Enzo Boglietti 2016 Barolo Brunate opens to a garnet appearance with beautifully presented aromas of wild berry, forest floor, licorice and spent ember. The wine achieves a beautiful sense of unity with so many detailed aromas balanced over the slender texture and firm tannins. A mere 2,300 bottles were released, and this wine won't be fully accessible until 10 years after the harvest.

James Suckling (96)

Wonderful clarity to this wine with floral, cedar, pure-strawberry and citrus aromas that follow through to a full bodied, tight and focused palate with tannins that flow through to the finish. Such purity and beauty to this. Try after 2023.

Vinous (93)

The 2016 Barolo Cerretta is gorgeous. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, flowers and white pepper give this aromatic, mid-weight Barolo a real feeling of finesse that also comes through in the silky red berry fruit flavors. There is just enough grip to give the mid-palate and finish energy, but overall this is a relatively approachable Barolo that will drink well with minimal cellaring.

Vinous (94)

The 2016 Barolo Prapò captures all of the wild, unrestrained character that is so typical of wines from this district of Serralunga. Dried herbs, menthol, underbrush, licorice, pine, cloves and incense play off a core of dark fruit. Virile and imposing, with plenty of clout, the 2016 is super-impressive in the early going.

Wine Enthusiast (99)

Enticing aromas of rose, iris, wild berry and spice appear in this gorgeous red. Combining structure and finesse, the delicious palate delivers ripe raspberry, Marasca cherry, star anise and pipe tobacco set against a backbone of firm, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps it impeccably balanced while a tangy mineral note lingers on the finish. While it's still quite young, it already shows class, pedigree and excellent aging potential. Drink 2026–2046.

The Francesco Brigatti, Ghemme, Oltre il Bosco 2016 is a remarkable superb Italian red wine, crafted with an artisanal touch in the renowned region of Piedmont. Produced by third-generation winemaker Francesco Brigatti and mature in oak barrels for 36 months, this wine is testament to his time-honoured winemaking techniques.

The Ghemme, Oltre il Bosco is a Nebbiolo-dominant blend, exhibiting refined layers of red fruit, nuanced by hints of spice and a toasted earthiness. This fine wine stands as a celebration of the terroir's granite soil, gentle undulations and temperate micro-climate. Its beautiful balance of acidity and tannins contribute to a long, pleasurable finish.

As a limited production wine, each bottle of Francesco Brigatti, Ghemme, Oltre il Bosco 2016 embodies the passion of the vintner and the spirit of the locality, making it a perfect choice for discerning collectors and connoisseurs of fine Italian wines.

Wine Advocate (97)

If you consider the Barolo playbook at Fratelli Alessandria, the 2016 Barolo Gramolere takes the intensity and power up one more notch. You get black fruit and blackberry, but there is enough vibrant red fruit to keep this wine aligned with the more elegant and traditional side of Barolo. The wine shows compelling infinities with both the powerful and the elegant side of Nebbiolo. There are noticeable mineral notes and even a spot of savory salinity. However, Gramolere definitely has the power and inner grit to withstand long cellar aging. Only 7,000 bottles were made.

Vinous (97)

The 2016 Barolo Monvigliero is a total knock-out. A burst of sweet red berry fruit, mint, pine and red berry fruit give the Monvigliero its effusive aromatic presence. A Barolo of tremendous pedigree, the Alessandria’s Monvigliero is sure to put a smile on the face of Piedmont lovers. Although it is very young, the 2016 is off the charts gorgeous. It is everything first rate Barolo can and should be. The 2016 is to die for. Don’t miss it.

Vinous (95+)

The 2016 Barolo San Lorenzo di Verduno bristles with energy, as all these wines do. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2016 needs time to shed some of its youthful austerity. Sweet tobacco, spice, cedar, earthiness and dried cherry are some of the many notes that open up with some coaxing. Time in the glass bring out a whole range of tar and incense nuances that work so well with the wine’s personality.Over the years, I have been fortunate to taste the Alessandria Barolos with quite a bit of bottle age. I don’t want to scare readers off, but the 2016 is likely to be at its best in another decade or so, once the muscular tannins start to soften a bit. My impression is that the wait will be worth it.

Vinous (96)

Gaja's 2016 Barbaresco is positively stellar. A wine of poise and grace, the 2016 has so much to offer. Expressive spice and floral notes open up first, but what really stands out is the wine's nuance and delineation. There is a sense of translucency to the 2016 that is impossible to miss. Sweet red cherry, mint, cinnamon and rose petal develop in the glass, adding further shades of nuance. Quite simply, the 2016 is one of the very finest Gaja Barbarescos in recent memory. This is such a gorgeous wine. Don't miss it.

Wine Advocate (100)

The golden touch, that proverbial Gaja magic, is taken to a whole new level in the 2016 Barolo Sperss. Angelo Gaja has taught his children to follow their own path, and now that the generational switch is well underway at the family estate, we can see that Gaia, Rossana and Giovanni have done him proud. Very proud. This stunning expression from the 2016 vintage (with 16,000 bottles released) represents quite a few celebratory milestones. We are now in the fifth generation to protect the Gaja legacy in an unbroken family chain that has endured since 1859. This wine is 100% Nebbiolo, and since the 2013 vintage, it is part of the Barolo DOCG appellation. Winemaking has been tweaked to embrace a more elegant, ethereal and streamlined personality, instead of the bigger extraction we saw in the past. This upgraded identity is distinctly evident in this newest release of Sperss. Starting with appearance, the wine is luminous and bright with shiny ruby and garnet gemstone. Its aromatic reach is three-dimensional with width, height and depth. Delicate berry tones cede to pressed lilac, anise, sandalwood and cardamom spice. I double decanted and left the bottle open for a few hours before my tasting. The results are tight and gentle, and the wine shows beautiful vertical lift and intensity. To achieve this much power without the excess fruit weight is really quite an accomplishment. This is the magic of Nebbiolo, and the magic of Gaja.

Wine Spectator (94)

Elegant and expressive, this red evokes cherry, raspberry and floral notes, aligned to a refined structure. This is balanced and leaves an aftertaste of fruit, tobacco and iron. Best from 2023 through 2043. 3,300 cases made.

Wine Spectator (94)

Elegant and expressive, this red evokes cherry, raspberry and floral notes, aligned to a refined structure. This is balanced and leaves an aftertaste of fruit, tobacco and iron. Best from 2023 through 2043. 3,300 cases made.

Wine Advocate (98)

From the Bricco delle Viole cru, or the vineyard most strongly associated with this historic estate, this is a versatile or "evergreen" wine that always delivers consistent results. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole sees fruit from a seven-hectare vineyard with high exposures positioned at 400 to 480 meters above sea level. This site shows characteristic Tortonian-era soils classified as Sant'Agata marl with fossils. These soils have an enormous capacity to regulate the ripening process, resulting in the longer growing seasons relished by the Nebbiolo grape. In a word, the profile here is classic. You get delicate fruit tones and wild rose with camphor ash, licorice and tar. The wine is beautifully harmonious and ethereal. Some 15,000 bottles are hitting the market now.

Wine Advocate (98)

From the Bricco delle Viole cru, or the vineyard most strongly associated with this historic estate, this is a versatile or "evergreen" wine that always delivers consistent results. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole sees fruit from a seven-hectare vineyard with high exposures positioned at 400 to 480 meters above sea level. This site shows characteristic Tortonian-era soils classified as Sant'Agata marl with fossils. These soils have an enormous capacity to regulate the ripening process, resulting in the longer growing seasons relished by the Nebbiolo grape. In a word, the profile here is classic. You get delicate fruit tones and wild rose with camphor ash, licorice and tar. The wine is beautifully harmonious and ethereal. Some 15,000 bottles are hitting the market now.

Vinous (94)

The 2016 Barolo Coste di Rose is plump, juicy and forward - all qualities that make it one of the more approachable wines in the Vajra range. Plump dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice and menthol all flesh out in a racy, juicy Barolo that will drink well right out of the gate. Plush fruit and silky tannins add to the wine's voluptuous feel and early accessibility. This is very good, but it is not particularly complex.

Wine Spectator (97)

Alluring aromas of cherry, rose and graphite settle into a core of cherry and strawberry fruit, with nuances of iron, tobacco and tar. Sleek, yet intense and complex, unfolding effortlessly through the long finish. Best from 2023 through 2047. 500 cases made.