2010 Barolo Castellero
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Tasting notes
The 2010 Barolo Castellero already shows a good degree of spice, tobacco and heft with a fine sense of richness and depth despite the wine’s young age. Its color shows those lively garnet hues that are so characteristics of new Nebbiolo. Despite the aromatic layering, the mouthfeel remains compact, polished and thin. Drink: 2016-2026. The Brezza estate includes 16 hectares of vines at the heart of Barolo and focuses on traditional interpretations of Nebbiolo. That said, the 2010 vintage definitely requires a healthy period of aging patience partly because of this soft-handed winemaking approach. My feeling is that these samples were partially shut down at the time of my tasting. I wonder how they will taste five or ten years from now. I did have a chance to re-taste samples of the same wines from 2009 and was left with a fabulous impression (that confirms the high scores I gave last year). That vintage is far more immediate soft and forthcoming. The 2010 wines may ultimately taste better further down the road, but only time will tell. Various American Importers, including: Acid Inc. Selections, New York, NY; tel. (917) 687-4848; P&S Wine Company, Portland, OR; tel. (503) 265-3155; Ideal Wine & Spirits, Medford, MA; tel. (781) 395-3300
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Barolo. Palish ruby with broad orange rim. Really subdued merely hinting at sweet fruit. Lovely elegant palate that is not hugely expressive at the moment, but showing lots of promise. (WS)
Barolo. Very pale ruby with bricky tinges. Dark earth and hints of dried fruit. Light yet very compact but wonderfully built structure with coating tannins. Less fragrant than the Cannubi and a little less concentrated. It is all about structure, less about fruit. (WS)
Brezza's 2010 Barolo Castellero offers up a super-classic profile of dried rose petal, anise, mint, coffee, sweet herbs and dried cherries. A gracious, mid-weight Barolo, the 2010 stands out for its soft, approachable personality and impeccable sense of balance. Sweet floral and spice notes linger on the soft, feminine finish. This is the most ethereal and fleeting of the 2010s. The Castellero is also a bit less polished and complete than the other Barolos in the range.