Grape Expectations: Barolo

In the foggy hills of Italy’s Piemonte lies the hallowed region of Barolo, widely acknowledged to be the source of some of the world’s finest red wines. Barolo is made entirely from the Nebbiolo grape, whose name is derived from ‘nebbia’, the Italian word for fog.

Expect wines of delicate brick red colour with a look of transparency due to the low anthocyanin count of Nebbiolo. Don’t let this fool you into expecting a light wine, though. Nebbiolo is famous for its very high tannins which can make its wines unapproachable in youth, but also lends them incredible ageing potential. Alongside these high tannins is an incredibly complex array of flavours, often including rose, tar, spice and cherry, which fade into leathery, meaty characteristics with ten to twenty years in bottle.

All this complexity and ageworthiness doesn’t come cheap, of course. I would also advise you against buying a Barolo at a suspiciously low price. Langhe Nebbiolo – grown in the larger area surrounding the Barolo region – can offer similar characteristics to Barolo but without the price tag. It is often also approachable younger, so no need to leave it in the cellar for years on end before you can enjoy your bottle to its full potential.

Previous Post
Number Three in the UK
Next Post
What We’re Drinking in February