Wine Information & Reviews | Vino Critic
Pronunciation – Bah-rollo
Barolo comes from the northwest of Italy in the wine region of Piedmont or Piemonte. Barolo is very famous for being a big and bold wine with high structure and a large bouquet of aromas. It all started with Elio Altare and his fellow group of winemakers, called “the barolo boys”.
Barolo is made from the grape Nebbiolo, which is very strong and austere and was not the most approachable wine. The barolo boys were able to introduce modern winemaking techniques, which later turned this wine into what we know it today. Nebbiolo as a varietal is very lightly pigmented and has a very distinct orange color, when compared to other varietals.
Primary Notes – Tart and dried red fruits, such as cranberries and cherries. Red floral notes, dried violets, potpourri
Secondary/Tertiary Notes – Organic, damp earth or turned soil, wet leaves, dried leaves, forest floor
Body – Moderate plus to high
Finish – High acidity, High tannins, Zero sweetness
Typical ABV – 12.5-14.5%
The styles of Barolo fall into two categories. The older winemakers of the region prefer a bigger bolder style that must be aged for at least 10 yrs before it is ready to be drunk. These types of wines will develop tertiary aromas due to the aging and gain complexity as a result. The younger generation of winemakers tend to produce wines that can be drunk young and do not require an excessive amount of aging. These are lighter and more fruit forward. The thought behind this was to be able to introduce wines that can be drunk sooner than later.
Notable Wines Made From Barolo are those coming from certain communes/ sub-regions within Barolo. Look for these names on the label: La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d’Alba and Monteforte d”alba
Barolo is a DOCG indicating it is in the highest level of quality of the Italian wine classification system.
Barolo is often considered a “gastronomic” wine. This means it can pair with food very well due to its complexity and “layers” of aromas. Heartier meals and stronger meats would work well with these powerful wines.
Barolo recommended serving temperature – 68ºF (20ºC)
As mentioned earlier, the younger styles of wine do not require much aging such as those coming from Barolo and La Morra. These are lighter styles of Barolo where 3 to 5 years of aging is sufficient. However, those wines made in the older style coming from Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d’Alba for example, require an aging of 8 to 12 years before reaching its prime.
Barolo being a DOCG and one of the highest quality wines coming from Italy, the price will reflect that. However, it is possible to find wines starting at around $30.
One glass of Barolo (5.5 oz) has about 110 calories.
Barolo is very easily identified when lined up with other red wines due to its unique orange color.
Barolo Chinato is a fortified liqueur wine that is made by adding Cinchona bar and other flavorings to Barolo.
Barolo is known as the “King of Italy” when it comes to wines as it brings power and status.
Along with the likes of Rioja, Bordeaux and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Barolo is considered to be one of the best red wines in the world. It’s made from the Nebbiolo grape in the north of Italy and is famous … Read More