2010 Barolo Sotto Castello di Novello
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Tasting notes
This is vivified in the same way as the classic Barolo then spends 12 months in barrique, then another 12 in large botti. This has a sweet clean nose and there is clearly some substance here. Poised and powerful, and a step up. Depth. This is very, very good indeed. It tastes a little like a Cannubi with a bit more precision and has a “Grand Cru” depth to it. Clearly some exceptional terroir here. Excellent.
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2010 Barolo Sotto Castello di Novello is an oak-driven expression of Nebbiolo (especially at this young point in the wine’s life) with dark cherry and black fruit backed by pretty nuances of clove, smoke, tar and nutmeg. This wine needs more time to integrate. There’s a dark and mature quality to the fruit with dried endnotes of prune and black currant. Drink: 2017-2025. Importer: Banville Wine Merchants, www.banvillewine.com
Novello. Deep ruby with the beginning of development. Smoky, balsamic perfumed cherry fruit. Concentrated palate but far from open. Seems a little monolithic and tannic, but quite complex. (WS)
The 2010 Barolo Sotto Castello di Novello is dark, rich and immediate. Black cherry, plum, mocha, cloves and licorice meld together in a juicy, explosive Barolo with considerable near and medium-term appeal. This is an especially forward, fruit-driven Barolo within the context of a year that yielded generally firmer, more structured wines. There is an immediacy to the 2010 that makes it hard to resist, but at the same time, this isn't likely to be one of the more age worthy Barolos of the vintage.