TOP 50 WINES OF 2022 #17

Vietti has been in the village of Castiglione Falletto since the beginning of the nineteenth century. Over time, they have gradually selected the best vineyards to grow Nebbiolo and showcase them in individually, showing the diversity of this grape and their terroir. This is a great entry into the world of Vietti with their Barolo. It has everything you want from this variety. Rose petal and cherries waft up from the glass with a luscious palate of seamlessly interwoven tannins adding complexity and layers to the wine. It's balanced and delicious, …. this everything we look for in great Barolo, while rose petal and cherry notes surprise and delight the palate with every sip. Priced at just over $50, this is a steal.

The 2015 Barolo Riserva is a new wine from Vietti conceived as a blend that changes every year, a sort of Riserva of the Castiglione, in that it is a Barolo made from the many lots Vietti has at their disposal. Exotic red fruit, blood orange, spice, leather and cedar are some of the aromas and flavors that emerge from the glass. The 2015 shows the aromatic complexity of a wine that has been in bottle for a few years, naturally it does not offer the singularity of the vineyard designates. I won't be surprised if this bottling improves in future vintages as the direction becomes even more clearly defined.

Very ripe, yet discreet and so mineral and punchy, almost like smelling a wet rock. Bone-dry and crisp, yet elegant and textured. Really attractive and subtle with a linear, mineral finish. Delicious now, but will hold, too.

The 2018 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is suave, silky and caressing right out of the gate. Sumptuous and racy, with silky tannins, the Rocche possesses superb depth and plenty of resonance that builds over time. The 2018 is an especially potent Rocche that is going to need a number of years to unwind.

Broad and saturated with cherry, black currant and plum flavors, this red is expansive and yet well defined. The ripe fruit is offset by nervous tannins, leaving a resonant, energetic feel on the lengthy finish. Eucalyptus, iron and tobacco notes add detail. Best from 2025 through 2047. 642 cases made, 193 cases imported.

Sliced apples, lemons, wild herbs and some cream on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with an oily texture. Very fresh. Drink now.

The 2019 Carmignano Villa di Capezzana is youthfully poised with dusty rose, dried black cherries and a burnt orange zest forming its bouquet. This washes across the palate with silky textures and ripe red fruits, gaining tension through a mix of saline-tinged acidity and sour citrus notes. Its tannins come on strong through the finale, coupled with a saturation of primary concentration and mineral tones as petty inner florals slowly fade. The 2019 is packed full of potential but will require patience.

Vietti is one of a handful of estates to bring the Ravera MGA of Novello to the current popularity it enjoys now. Their 2018 Barolo Ravera has a smoky personality with crushed stone and pencil shavings. There is plenty of dark fruit at the back, ripe cherry and blackberry mostly, and the wine is tonic and firm in terms of its structure and tannins. The Ravera is a wine of enormous length and a finely tuned texture. Exactly 7,560 bottles were made.