Tasting Note
94+ Points, Antonio Galloni, 2020-2042 Vinous A dark, powerful wine, the 2012 Barolo Brunate is the most brooding and inward of these wines. With time and a good bit of air, the Brunate becomes a bit more precise and nuanced, yet it remains a bit monolithic next to the other wines in the range. A host of savory herbs, licorice, tobacco and dark fruits meld into the huge, explosive finish. There is no shortage of depth or character, but increasingly the Brunate is being outclassed by some of its siblings. The competition is pretty tough at Vietti these days. Review Date: 01 Mar 16
About the Producer
Producing some of the finest wines of the region, Vietti is famed for its stand-out, single vineyard Barolo, namely Rocche, Ravera, Brunate, Lazzarito, Villero Riserva and, more recently, Cerequio and the revered Monvigliero. Vietti produces remarkably refined Barolo – they are incredibly textural, finely judged, and expressive. Outside the ‘great’ years that have gained them their recognition, they also excel in relatively unsung vintages like the 2011s, 2014s, 2015s, 2017s and 2018s. Since 1974, they have become known for their specially designed art label which helped establish their icon status and commitment to their heritage. In 2016, Luca and Elena Currado took the decision to move on from Vietti, having sold the estate to Italian-American businessman Kyle Krause. The Krause family’s investment has allowed Vietti to develop their holdings by purchasing parcels in Cru vineyards such as the aforementioned Monviglierio in Verduno and Cerequio in La Morra as well as Roncaglie in Treiso (Barbaresco), together with a hectare of Rabajà in Barbaresco itself. The vineyard acquisitions and the support for the Vietti team show that the new owners are profoundly committed to continuing the direction on which Luca and Elena set the estate. The unwavering vision that was originally set out for Vietti to be one of the leading fine wine estates of Piemonte remains strong, and the focus on producing incredibly high quality wines while adapting to changing vintage conditions is evident. The wines show a clear balance of respect for tradition and their heritage together with a deep understanding of modern viticulture and winemaking, significant considering most producers in Barolo have converged on a middle ground between traditional and modern winemaking practices. Importantly, Vietti was one of the leaders in recognising and expressing individual cru or terroir within Piemonte, something it has achieved with great success vintage-in-vintage-out for the last 20 years already.
