2014 Barolo Vecchie Viti

No new oak. Monopole and their largest vineyard. Sandstone – free draining. Very old vines. 2014 his style of vintage. Yields always low. 2,500 bottles produced. Pale orange-ruby. Essence of autumn. A cloud of wet, dead leaves on the nose! Gorgeous fruit with so much subtlety. Caresses the palate. You know this wine will live on and on but the tannins are so well integrated that you can't isolate them. Wonderfully long, subtle finish. I'm in love… (JR)

This is a fascinating wine made with vines planted in 1937, many on their original roots. The Pira vineyard in Castiglione Falletto is located just below Rocche di Castiglione and Scarrone and shows similar loose, yellowish soils that represent erosion from those overhead sites. Pira is a Roagna family monopoly since 1990. The beautiful 2014 Barolo Pira Vecchie Viti shows the classic balance and precision of Castiglione Falletto with bright fruit, cherry, licorice and toasted aniseed. The wine sees a very long maceration time, spanning two and a half months, and that extended skin contact builds the power and aromatic intensity of this Barolo. Production is 2,480 bottles.

The 2014 Barolo Pira Vecchie Viti is quite delicate and understated for this wine, which also means it will drink well with minimal cellaring. Macerated dark cherry, menthol, licorice, pine, spice, sweet tobacco and leather all develop in the glass. Next to the straight Pira, the Vecchie Vigne has an extra kick of mid-palate sweetness and richness that is quite attractive. For a young Roagna Barolo, the 2014 is very enticing and also accessible.