PIEDMONT VINTAGE GUIDE

Click on each vintage to see what we currently have in stock on our main website:

  • 2019 - First in what is rumored to be a trio of terrific vintages for Barolo and Barbaresco, the summer was hot but cool nights helped for a long hang time and relatively late harvest. Balanced alcohols, bright acidity, and structured wines, they have an approach-ability but don’t lack for depth. In the class with the top vintages from the past decade, they might not hit the heights of the 2016s, but the best wines can easily rival those classics.

  • 2018 - After early spring frosts and cold rains, warm weather emerged mid-summer and persisted through harvest. A long harvest led to high expectations, but the wines have proved to be a bit inconsistent. Some producers were able to craft memorable renditions of favorite wines, while some lack the concentration and structure of top years. Others declassified fruit, but the result is a massively over-performing example at a modest price point. A variable vintage, but one to try and experience for sure.

  • 2017 - The 2017 vintage provided some challenges, with early season hail in Nieve (Barbaresco) and relatively warm late season conditions.  Yields were down across the board.  But while the structured wines of 2016 will demand patience, some of the best 2017s are flat-out delicious and relatively accessible even in their early stages.  The vintage was exceptionally kind to Barbera.  Savvy shoppers will certainly be able to find some solid examples and, most likely, terrific values.

  • 2016 - 2016 is shaping up to be an all-time classic for the region, with both Barolo and Barbaresco producing some of their finest expressions to date.  Everything that makes Nebbiolo so special is abundant in spades.  The wines show great depth, typicité, and structure.  And while folks will long debate its standing against other elite vintages, the more immediate charm might just be in the quality that can be seen at nearly every level.  It is hard to go wrong with 2016s from Piedmont.

  • 2015 - A solid vintage for Barbaresco and Barolo, with warmer weather crafting a more approachable and consistent style of wines that will find many admirers. Early examples of Barbera, Dolcetto, and Nebbiolo bottlings indicate there’s a lot to be excited about and that it will be a value vintage across the region. Early comparisons are to the racy style of 2007 or to the charming wines from 2005. The top wines will have some great potential for a long time to come.

 

  • 2014 - Perhaps this will long be remembered as a Barbaresco vintage, where the summer brought rain and hail that touched down mostly in Barolo. Those that favor Barbaresco will find some real gems, perhaps under-the-radar just for the fact that their neighbors had more challenges. Late season conditions yielded some great opportunities to make high-quality wines and some 2014s are stunning examples that shouldn’t be missed. Some Barolo producers were able to craft wines that challenge the best vintage, while others declassified some of their Crus. Be selective, but don’t miss the highlights of this year.

 

  • 2013 - A graceful and expressive vintage, this has the balance of classic Piedmont with the character of some of the banner vintages like ’06 and ’10. Accessible but age-worthy wines, more on the elegant side. A collector or drinker’s vintage, strong for both Barolo and Barbaresco.

 

  • 2012 - Mid-weight and accessible, 2012 is a charming vintage of wines that are reminiscent of the 2005s—a vintage that has aged and developed surprisingly well. A great option while some of the surrounding vintages age, and a place to look for value in higher-end options.

 

  • 2011 - A warm and early vintage produced resplendent wines that are often in the shadow of the extraordinarily popular 2010s. For those who like flashier, more immediate wines, the 2011s have a ton to offer in the style of, for example, 2007. Barbaresco fared slightly better than Barolo and some might argue that 2011 was more successful in that particular commune.

 

  • 2010 - An incredible vintage for Piedmont and Barolo in specific. Some would say the ideal balance of concentration, expression of site, and ageworthiness. Borrowing a little bit of the great vintages surrounding it, 2010 will be the point-of-reference for most great vintages in the future (and past) in Piedmont.

 

  • 2009 - In between the classic ‘08s and triumphant ‘10s, 2009s have a tough time finding their signature. Light, graceful wines, they are often savvy buys for the most successful labels and an easy-drinking Piedmont vintage if there ever was one.

 

  • 2008 - Super classic and elegant, these are the counterpoint to the flamboyant and immediate 2007s. For those looking for old-school Barolo and Barbaresco, the top producers have certainly made some stunning examples in this vein.

 

  • 2007 - Rich and expressive, 2007 produced some big, bold, but balanced wines that show what Piedmont can accomplish when a vintage is rich but not over-the-top. Some of the best examples of this vintage have potential to be all-time classics and it is a great year for those looking to get a friendly introduction to the wines of Piedmont.

 

  • 2006 - Super classic in that the wines are concentrated and often massively tannic. For those who enjoy that style, it doesn’t get much better than 2006. Wines for the cellar and of exceptional quality across the board, they are also wines for the patient as well. It is the ideal marriage of modern Piedmont and classic structure.

 

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