ELIO ALTARE Cannubi , Barolo DOCG The Elio Altare Cannubi Barolo is made using Nebbiolo grapes. Only about 125 dozen bottles are produced each year from vines planted on south-facing slopes in the late 1990s. The vineyard, on marna stone, clay and sandy soils, is farmed organically, but along traditional lines. The grapes are crushed and then macerated on skins for 4-5 days in temperature-controlled rotary fermenters before fermentation using indigenous yeasts. The wine is matured for 24 months in French oak barriques before bottling unfined and unfiltered. The Elio Altare Cannubi Barolo shows a light, ruby-red colour with hints of garnet. The nose is fresh and fruity, with scents of rose petals and other flowers. The palate is typically warm and elegant with smooth, silky tannins and a long finish.

This wine was made in 2011 and 2012 but not in 2013. The 2014 Barolo Falletto (white label) is fascinating to taste right after the Barbaresco Riserva Asili from the same vintage. There is no doubting the extra muscle mass and power that is obtained in the Barolo appellation, and from the Serralunga dAlba township specifically. This dramatic Barolo delivers darkness and density. It shows a beautiful appearance with faint highlights of dark ruby that add a subtle sparkle. At this point in its drinking cycle, the wine shows all the characteristic traits of its youth. This means it is more closed and rigid at present. That nervous tightness needs to be factored in when assessing the cellar longevity of this vintage. Hints of the wines inner complexity, sheer determination and textural fortitude are already bubbling up from deep inside this firmly layered Nebbiolo. I wanted to mention the tightness of the tannins now. These will undoubtedly serve to carry this wine forward over the coming decades. *95 points*, The Wine Advocate Monica Larner

CAPPELLANO Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris-Nebioli, Barolo DOCG

A powerhouse Piedmont producer that is synonymous with quality. The 2017 is a blend of 14 vineyards within the region. A perfectly balanced wine that has body and structure but also finesse. Ever evolving this is a collectors dream that will continue to deliver rewards with time.

Roberto Voerzio Rocche dellAnnunziata Barolo Le Rocche dellAnnunziata is a special Cru. Were there a Grand Cru classifcaition in Barolo, this would certainly be one of the first to gain such certification. Roberto Voerzios expression shows prop forward power, drive and determination. With good cellaring and decanting, the youthful ferocity calms to reveal more fresh herbs and balsam wood. Crush red fruits, orange peel and a touch of chocolate.

Roberto Voerzio Cerequio Barolo The south/southeast-facing vineyard of Cerequioone of the most prestigious Crus in the commune of La Morra if not all of Barolosits at 270-320m asl. The older vines are pruned for low yields with an aggressive green harvest followed by trimming the bunches to about 500g of fruit per plant. The fruit is harvested by hand (in late September, early October) and fermented on indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged for two years in older French oak barrels and 20 hectolitre botti followed by an additional eight months in tank. It spends further eight months in bottle before release.

Roberto Voerzio Fossati Barolo The Fossati is a descentdaent of the Fossati Case Nere 10 Anni Riserva. This wine offers a dual education in the power and robustness of relatively younger vineyard Barolo (it is more Barolo than La Morra) and the lamentable predictability of Italian bureaucratic nonsense. Owing to a change in the regulations, Roberto Voerzio had to change tack from his doppio cru reserve Barolo, known as Fossati Case Nere, as producers can only put the name of the winery, the region, sub-region or the particular cru on the label. You might think this is a reasonable stipulation, and, in truth, it is. What was so predictably lamentable is that it took so long. Now Roberto keeps the Case Nere for his Riserva and the Fossati for the Young Turk of Barolo that we may enjoy now. The 2015 was the first vintage of this wine.