2021 Vietti "Castiglione" Barolo

The 2021 Barolo Castiglione is a superb entry-level Barolo from Vietti. Rich, deep and layered in the glass, the 2021 offers tons of near- and medium-term appeal. The blend of sites is compelling. Dark red-toned fruit, spice, menthol, and licorice are all beautifully amplified. In 2021, the Castiglione approaches the level of the crus, and that is saying something. (AG)

Vietti is undisputed Piedmontese royalty. Based in the medieval village of Castiglione Falletto, the winery has spent over a century defining the modern era of Barolo. While they are famous for producing some of the region's first single-cru bottlings, their "Castiglione" label remains the ultimate masterclass in the ancient, historical art of blending. By meticulously sourcing fruit from top-tier crus across Barolo’s diverse communes—marrying the elegant, perfumed fruit of the calcareous-clay in the west with the powerful, structured fruit from the sandstone soils of the east—Vietti creates a wine that is greater than the sum of its parts. The 2021 vintage is already being hailed as a modern classic, offering perfect climatic balance. In the glass, it pours a glowing, translucent garnet. The aromatics are soaring and pure, delivering the quintessential Barolo bouquet of dried rose petals, tar, bright red cherry, and a whisper of alpine mint. On the palate, it is flawlessly structured. The tannins are firm but remarkably refined, wrapping around a vibrant core of red fruit and precise acidity. While it has the pedigree to age for decades, a few hours in a decanter makes it a magnificent pairing for truffle pasta today.