CASE PRICE = $34.99 per bottle (add 12+ quantity to your basket)
About This Wine:
Designation: Estate-bottled, Barolo DOCG
Region: Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
Grapes: 100% Nebbiolo
The grapes are selected from vineyards located in Castiglione Falletto, Monforte, Barolo and Novello where the vines are planed an average of 4.800 vines per hectare.The vines are 7 to 35 years old. After harvesting, the grapes are gently pressed. Fermentation in stainless steel occurs over 15 days, with daily cap submersion for extraction of flavor and color.The wine is then aged for 24 months in casks then blended in stainless steel tanks 8 months before bottling.
Food Pairings: hearty stew, wild game, roasted red meats and sharp, aged cheeses.
Alcohol: 13,5% Alc. by vol.
What Does It Taste Like?
Pale ruby color with garnet hues and powerful aromas of rich, ripe
cherries with intricate complexities of spice, tea leaves and rose
petals.Strong, rich Tannins, crisp acidity and masculine structure.This
ageworthy Barolo shows incredible finesse with excellent balance,
integration and a long, lingering finish.
Ratings & Reviews
92+ Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:"The 2006 Barolo Castiglione is frighteningly outstanding, considering it is Vietti’s entry-level Barolo! There is incredible density and power in the glass as waves of fruit caress the palate with tons of richness. Sweet menthol, flowers and spices add complexity to the long, stupendous finish. In 2006 the Barolo Castiglione is a blend of fruit from Bricco Fiasco (except for the lower part of that plot), Ravera, Fossati and Bricco Ravera. All of the estate’s Barolo-designated vineyards that weren’t bottled separately were used for that vintage’s Perbacco, a selection process I wrote about extensively in my recent profile on Vietti on www.erobertparker.com. The Barolo Castiglione is usually approachable pretty much upon release, but in 2006 the wine has so much fatness it will probably benefit from a few years in bottle. Barolo is never inexpensive, but the Castiglione is as good a wine as readers will find for the money. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026.
I sampled a mind-boggling array of outstanding – and often profound – wines in my marathon tasting session with proprietor and winemaker Luca Currado. The 2006 Barolos are nothing short of spectacular and the 2007s may be even better! Readers can check out notes on those wines in my recent feature on the estate posted on www.erobertparker.com. I should note that Vietti plans to release a 2006 Barolo Riserva Villero, but that wine is years from seeing the light of day. The Barolos are vinified in stainless steel, then racked into French oak for the malolactic fermentation, where the wines remain for a few months. The majority of aging takes place in large, neutral casks. Over the last few years, the use of French oak has become more measured and the Barolos are now among the elite wines of the region in virtually every vintage. In short, there seems to be no end to this estate’s ambition. Frankly, I wish there were more wineries setting their sights on this level of quality." -Antonio Galloni (4/2010)
92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate ('05 vintage):"The 2005 Barolo Castiglione is especially taut and focused in this vintage. Floral notes are intermingled with dark red fruit, spices and new leather in this gorgeous, poised offering. The 2005 Barolo Castiglione uncharacteristically needs some bottle age but it offers integrity of fruit that is remarkable. Over the last few years Luca Currado has stepped up the quality of the Castiglione bottling in a major way. Any parcels in this multi-cru Barolo that don’t meet his exacting standards are declassified and used in the Lange Nebbiolo Perbacco (see above). In 2005 the main vineyards in the Barolo Castiglione are Ravera, Bricco del Fiasco, Fossati, and Ciabot Berton; while the fruit from Bussia, Bricco Boschis and Bricco Ravera (Ginestra) ended up being used in that year’s Perbacco. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025." -Antonio Galloni (4/2009)
92 Points -
Wine Spectator Magazine ('05 vintage):
"Shows sweet berry and perfume on the nose, with rose and raspberry. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a milk chocolate, berry and vanilla aftertaste. Big and chewy. Yet balanced and very pretty. Best after 2012. 4,000 cases made. –JS" (7/31/2009)
