The Vietti 2016 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a complete wine, offering exact measures of purity, intensity, freshness and structure. This is the 360-degree Barolo from Vietti, with fruit sourced closest to home in Castiglione Falletto. Rocche di Castiglione sees more shade hours, and that becomes an important factor in the hottest vintages and the longest growing seasons. It creates diurnal shifts that positively impact the purity and brilliant focus of the fruit. Of all the comuni of Barolo, Castiglione Falletto produced exceptional results across the board in this classic vintage. Dark fruit, pressed lilac, blood orange, powdered licorice, balsam herb, spice, iron ore and aniseed fit together perfectly like pieces in a puzzle. Once completed, that puzzle offers a dazzling panoramic portrait of this special Barolo territory. A mere 3,394 bottles and 300 magnums were produced.

This is a special wine with the words "pianeta, terra, planet, earth" painted by hand at the bottom of the bottle. The Enrico Serafino 2007 Alta Langa Metodo Classico Pas Dosé Riserva Zero 140 opens to a pale gold color and shows immediate warmness and creaminess. This sparkling blend of 85% Pinot Nero and 15% Chardonnay is very inviting. You get poached pear and peach with toasted almond and baked bread. The texture is soft and rich with fine, soft beading that keeps the wine lively and fresh to the end. It ages on the lees for a whopping 140 months, or 12 years. In fact, the winery claims that this is the longest-aging sparkling wine produced in Italy. A precious few 890 bottles were made (and my sample was disgorged at the end of January 2020).

This is an exciting new addition to the Vietti portfolio. The 2018 Colli Tortonesi Timorasso Derthona is a compact, medium-bodied wine that offers a large span of neutral aromas ranging from melon and quince to Golden Delicious apple. What sets the wine apart is its silky texture and creamy fruit weight. I happily drank my sample with some take-out spring rolls in spicy sauce. We will surely see more prominent winemakers in Lange who decide to dabble in Timorasso in the upcoming years. This native grape shows promising aging potential and makes for an excellent white wine addition in a portfolio of age-worthy reds.

Cedar, eucalyptus, Mediterranean scrub and wild berry are just some of the aromas you’ll find on this gorgeous red. On the drop-dead delicious palate, smoky mineral and licorice accent a core of juicy Morello cherry and blood orange. Fresh acidity and lithe, polished tannins provide elegant support. Drink through 2029.

Drawing its fruit from Serralunga d'Alba, the Vietti 2016 Barolo Lazzarito is built like a pyramid. It is grounded by a thick base of robust fruit and power and soars upward in intensity thanks to its beautifully lifted bouquet. It reveals direct and solid lines with blackberry, plum, spice, tar, licorice, candied orange peel and truffle-infused earth. A second wave of aromas offers dark minerals and ferrous qualities such as iron ore and rust. Baroli from Serralunga d'Alba are often in a category apart thanks to their richness and sheer fruit weight. With extra aeration, Lazzarito delivers mint, balsam herb or Fernet-Branca. Production is 9,293 bottles and 300 magnums.