2014 Vietti Barolo Castiglione

The 2014 Barolo Castiglione is superb. Nuanced, layered and sculpted in the glass, the Castiglione is a wine of real precision and class. In 2014, the Castiglione is medium in body and gracious, with perhaps a bit less stuffing than in some previous editions, but tons of persistence. Hints of lavender, rose petal and red berry fruit lead into the crystalline, translucent finish. Time in the glass brings out this gorgeous Barolo's more refined side. Once again, the Castiglione is a real overachiever. The Castiglione is built on a core of Ravera, with a complement of fruit from other sites that are often vineyard-designated by other producers.

This is a terrific and flexible expression of Nebbiolo that can adopt to almost any dinner party setting. The 2014 Barolo Castiglione was designed for people who want to enjoy Barolo in an easy and direct manner. This Barolo is offered at higher production numbers, although this vintage is comparatively smaller. On average they make anywhere from 44,000 to 53,000 bottles, but in 2014 only 35,000 bottles were produced. The bouquet here is generous and broad with dark fruit, spice and tar. You even get a touch of citrus or dried orange peel. The mouthfeel is a bit thinner and more delicate in this vintage. Yet the tannins leave a firm footprint and promise a good aging future ahead. Jun 2018, www.robertparker.com