Cavallotto, Vignolo Barola Riserva, Piedmont, Italy, 2016

Overview of the Wine
On the periphery of the Castiglione Falletto township, centre of the Barolo area, crowning the Bricco Boschis hill, one comes upon the Tenuta Vitivinicola Cavallotto (the Cavallotto Vineyards) of 25 hectares of which 23 spread of vineyards.

Cavallotto Estate has been in the family for five generations and in 1948, the brothers Olivio and Gildo, who were continuing the work of their grandfather Giacomo, their father Giuseppe and their uncle Marcello, became the first people of the area to dedicate themselves to the production and trading of wines. These wines were obtained solely from the grapes of their own vineyards.

Olivio's offspring, Laura, Giuseppe, and Alfio continue to produce wine which is made exclusively from the estate's grapes and from the transformation of these they obtain DOC and DOCG: Barolo, Dolcetto d'Alba, Barbera d'Alba, Nebbiolo Langhe, Freisa Langhe, Grignolino Piedmonte, Pinot Langhe, Chardonnay Langhe.

Organic.

Origin
Piedmont, Italy

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
From this cru come wines of excellent structure with tannins that are soft and sweet from early in its life.. The perfume is typically intense and open, evolving into an intense spiced fruit. The initial perfumes are fruity and then followed by floral aspects, then spices, all open and intense. Generally excellent cellaring potential, though the wine is very enjoyable at an early age. The wine is best with second courses of red meat in general, but also grilled fish, shellfish or white meats, or with hard and aged cheeses. Desserts with dark chocolate are also a good match, or it can be enjoyed as a "vino da meditazione" (a wine for meditiation) by iteslf.

99 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Enticing aromas recalling new leather, pressed rose, eucalyptus and sandalwood come to the forefront on this gorgeous, compelling wine. Full-bodied, structured and loaded with finesse, the precise palate is young but already delicious, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry, licorice, truffle and white pepper alongside a backbone of taut, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized and will fuel decades of evolution. Drink 2026–2056.

97 Points - Wine Spectator
The volume of fruit is turned up in this red, revealing macerated cherry, raspberry and plum notes, with menthol, iron and tar elements adding depth. Solidly built, with fine tension and a complex, detailed aftertaste. Best from 2025 through 2047.

96 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Cavallotto 2016 Barolo Riserva Vignolo is an organic wine that shows superb balance and great intensity. Elegance and power are in fact the twofold hallmark of this iconic vintage. This is a polished and silky wine with an almost glossy or latex-like quality to its tannins (that I love, by the way). This 5,333-bottle production hails from a two-hectare vineyard with 40-year-old vines. It has southwest exposures at a breezy 220 to 310 meters in altitude.

Product size: 750ml