Vinous (94)

The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is a serious, somber wine. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol show off the darker side of Nebbiolo to great effect. In most vintages, Rio Sordo is an easygoing wine, but not in 2016. Readers will find a potent, brooding yet mid-weight Barbaresco that screams with character. What a way to start this tasting!

Vinous (95)

The 2016 Carema Riserva is another knock-out effort from the Produttori di Carema, the local cooperative that has really been on fire these last few vintages. Open-knit and inviting, but with all the complexity that is so typical of the appellation, the 2016 is superb. Crushed flowers, mint, sweet tobacco, cedar and licorice are all woven together in a super-expressive Carema that offers tons of complexity in a relatively accessible style for a young wine from the appellation. The Riserva is a selection of the best casks in the cellar, with the wine aged for an added year in cask, so three years’ in neutral oak in total. That extra year in oak vis-à-vis the Classico does take with it some of the fruit while emphasizing more savory and mineral qualities. Power and finesse come together so well in this textbook Carema.

Vinous (96)

Rich, heady and exotic in its beauty, Corino's 2016 Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata is a total stunner. In the glass, the 2016 Rocche is seamless and silky, with striking textural richness and persistence. Super-ripe red cherry, red plum, rose petal, mint and kirsch infuse the 2016 with layers of nuance. All the elements meld together in a rich, sumptuous Barolo that captures the essence of this great La Morra cru.

Here we have anything but your average Barolo classico... Renato expertly blends his best parcels in Rocche dell'Annunziata (50-year-old vines), Annunziata (26-year-old vines), Boiolo (24-year-old vines) and Villero (30-year-old vines) crus, making this something of a super cuvée. With incredible concentration, structure and balance through to the finish, this is a serious Barolo showing the intensity and classic profile that mark the 2016 vintage out as one of the best ever in Barolo.

Produced from Renato's prized 50 year old Rocche dell'Annunziata parcel. A clay and limestone terroir with a southern exposure. Delicate, perfumed, sweet candied light cherry fruit and so beguiling that for the long-standing disciples of Nebbiolo this Barolo will make you cry it is that sublime. A genius winemaker, a desert island wine.

Produced from Renato's prized 50 year old Rocche dell'Annunziata parcel. A clay and limestone terroir with a southern exposure. Delicate, perfumed, sweet candied light cherry fruit and so beguiling that for the long-standing disciples of Nebbiolo this Barolo will make you cry it is that sublime. A genius winemaker, a desert island wine.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

Iris, rose, botanical herb and dark spice aromas lead the way in this fragrant red, along with an enticing whiff of graphite. Elegantly structured and boasting youthful tension, the vibrant palate deliv- ers juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, cinna- mon and star anise framed in taut, refined tannins. It’s balanced and focused, with bright acidity. Drink 2024–2036

Wine Enthusiast (97)

Glossy, elegant and full bod- ied, this beauty opens with aromas of dark berry, menthol, wild rose and exotic spice. The deli- cious, finessed palate doles out mouthfuls of juicy red cherry, raspberry compote, vanilla and licorice framed in taut, fine-grained tannins. Vibrant acidity keeps it focused and lends youthful tension.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Structured but also loaded with finesse, this opens with earthy aromas of truffle, blue wildflowers, new leather and ripe dark-skinned berries. Juicy and delicious, the full-bodied palate doles out succulent Morello cherry, crushed raspberry and licorice before closing on a hint of tobacco. Noble tannins and fresh acidity provide the firm framework and balance. Give it plenty of time to fully develop.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

Blue flower, tobacco, camphor and ripe berry are just some of the aromas you'll find on the stunning red. Firmly structured and still youthfully austere, the compelling palate features ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and crushed mint alongside noble tannins. Bright acidity keeps it well-balanced and lends a seriously ageworthy structure.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

This drop-dead gorgeous red dazzles with an enticing fragrance of perfumed berry, fragrant blue flower, dark spice and camphor. Elegantly structured and focused, the taut, savory palate boasts remarkable finesse, vibrancy and a great depth of flavors including juicy red cherry, pomegranate, star anise and baking spice. It has incredible energy and balance thanks to taut, refined tannins and bright acidity.

James Suckling (100)

Wow. This is archetypal Barolo with a solid cylinder of polished tannins running through the center of the wine from start to finish. Full-bodied and wonderfully constructed with the tannins and beautiful fruit in all the right places. Dark fruit, dried earth and mushrooms with mild, hazelnut notes. Fantastic is the word to describe it. Endless finish. Drink after 2024 and onwards.

James Suckling (95)

This is incredibly deep and tight with dried rose petals, cedar and light plums and strawberries on the nose. The palate is refined and firm with precise balance of fruit, tannin and acidity. This is the first vintage. 50% of this comes from Voerzio crus and the rest comes from an area called Boiolo, near Brunate and Rocche dell’Annunziata. Wonderful balance and depth. Drink after 2022.

From the heart of Italy's Piedmont region comes the Runchet Barbaresco 2016, a refined and suitably suave expression of the cherished Nebbiolo grape variety. This lavish red wine is born from Runchet's meticulously tended vineyards within the acclaimed Langhe hills. Runchet's commitment to environmental sustainability ensures that nature and viticulture exist in harmony, providing the best terroir for Nebbiolo flourishment.

The Runchet Barbaresco 2016 rewards the palate with layered, expressive flavours - the harmonious blend of red cherry, dried rose, and licorice is underscored by hints of truffle and tobacco. Its distinguished complexity and elegant, velvety tannins are the result of meticulous vinification process incorporating stainless steel fermentation, followed by maturation in large Slavonian oak casks. A testament to Runchet's winemaking artistry, the Runchet Barbaresco 2016 will age gracefully, offering exquisite nuance and dimension to the discerning oenophile.

Experience the graceful allure of the Sara Vezza Barolo Ravera 2016. Masterfully crafted in the heart of Piedmont, Italy, this vintage red boasts a disciplined structure thanks to the region's cool climate and strict harvesting laws. With ageworthy finesse, Sara Vezza's traditionalist approach ensures the full expression of Nebbiolo in each bottle. The integrity of old-world winemaking runs deep in the Vezza family, cultivating a product steeped in authenticity.

The Sara Vezza Barolo Ravera 2016 presents an elegant tapestry of dried roses, crushed minerals and ripe red fruits forming a beautifully complex palate. Harmoniously balanced and well-integrated tannins invite a long, lingering finish. While ideal for decanting, its unflinching quality and potential for cellar ageing renders it a prominent contender for any discerning collector.

Whether indulged now or stored for a special occasion, the Sara Vezza Barolo Ravera 2016 promises a captivating journey through Italy's quintessential wine heritage.

Vinous (88)

The 2016 Barbaresco from Socré is a powerful, virile wine. Black cherry, dried herbs, menthol, licorice, sage, leather and cedar infuse this potent Barbaresco with a good bit of character. The 2016 offers plenty of breath and power, but the balance is dominated by the tannins at this stage. I am not sure bottle age will make a meaningful difference.

Vinous (88)

The 2016 Barbaresco from Socré is a powerful, virile wine. Black cherry, dried herbs, menthol, licorice, sage, leather and cedar infuse this potent Barbaresco with a good bit of character. The 2016 offers plenty of breath and power, but the balance is dominated by the tannins at this stage. I am not sure bottle age will make a meaningful difference.

Vinous (93)

The 2016 Barbaresco Roncaglie is loaded with black cherry, plum, tobacco, sage, licorice, smoke and menthol flavors. A potent, strapping wine, the 2016 has plenty to offer. I would cellar it for a few years to allow the tannins to soften a bit. There is a lot of substance here.

Vinous (94)

The 2016 Barolo Castiglione is a dazzling wine that will show readers just how compelling this vintage is, even among entry-level wines from top producers. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2016 possesses tremendous richness and resonance from the very first taste. Bright red cherry and red plum fruit, wild flowers, mint, blood orange and spice build as this sumptuous, dramatic Barolo shows all it's got. As always, the Castiglione is built on a core of fruit from Ravera. In 2016, the Castiglione benefits from the inclusion of several new sites, including Ginestra, Mosconi, Bricco Ravera (in Monforte), Le Coste, Costabelle, Meriame, Briccolina and Codana. All I can say is: What a wine!

Vinous (98)

The 2016 Barolo Lazzarito is another stunning wine in this range. The 2016 is the first vintage of the Lazzarito I can remember tasting in which intensely mineral notes accompany the more savory, earthy notes that are so typical of this site. Graphite, sage, dried flowers, crushed rocks, menthol, dried rose petal, mint, licorice and blood orange race out of the glass in a breathtaking, towering Barolo that hits all the right notes from the start to its chiseled, strikingly detailed finish. The 2016 Lazzarito is one of the most classically austere wines in this range. In a word: Magnificent.

Vinous (100)

The 2016 Barolo Ravera is bursting with all of the tension that is the most singular characteristic of this site. Freshly cut flowers, white pepper and mint lend energy to a wine that is very shy and tightly wound today. Then again, it is Ravera. Macerated dark cherry, lavender, mint, crushed rocks and sage race out of the glass in a potent, stunning Barolo endowed with magnificent purity and translucency. The 2010 is quite simply a stunning, breathtaking wine. Don't miss it.

Vinous (100)

The 2016 Barolo Ravera is bursting with all of the tension that is the most singular characteristic of this site. Freshly cut flowers, white pepper and mint lend energy to a wine that is very shy and tightly wound today. Then again, it is Ravera. Macerated dark cherry, lavender, mint, crushed rocks and sage race out of the glass in a potent, stunning Barolo endowed with magnificent purity and translucency. The 2010 is quite simply a stunning, breathtaking wine. Don't miss it.

Vinous (99)

The 2016 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is rich, sumptuous and elegant. Light on its feet yet also wonderfully deep and nuanced, the 2016 possesses off-the-charts resonance, energy and aromatic intensity. All the elements come together in a profoundly expressive Barolo endowed with tremendous class and pedigree. Ample, creamy and explosive, this is a wine of textural resonance and pure power.