Wine Advisor
Cavallotto, Barolo Riserva Vignolo 2001
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2001 Barolo Riserva Vignolo is a terrific effort. This elegant, refined wine presents expressive, perfumed aromatics and sweet red fruit, with notable persistence and delineation on the palate. It is a finessed, superbly poised Barolo that will benefit from another few years of bottle age to soften the tannins, even if it is surprisingly accessible as well as irresistible today. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2001 Barolo Riserva Vignolo is a gorgeous, silky wine laced with expressive red fruit, flowers, mint and licorice. There is plenty of freshness and vibrancy in the fruit. At the same time, the tannins are so fine that the wine is approcahble today with some air. I imagine the 2001 will provide fabulous drinking for another decade or more. A ripe, silky finish rounds things out in style. In 2001 the Vignolo is all finesse and elegance. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021. Cavallotto often gets lost in the shuffle among Piedmont’s elite producers. Maybe that’s because the dual flagship Riservas Vignolo and San Giuseppe are released long after most wines hit the market. Barolo lovers know better. Over the decades Cavallotto has built a sterling track record. The wines have never been better than under the leadership of siblings Alfio, Giuseppe and Laura Cavallotto. The Baroli are made in a traditional style and see extended aging in cask. The best vintages can last 30-40 years. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including: de Grazia Imports; tel. (417) 732-4200; Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Estate Wines Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411, Robert Houde Wines, Elk Grove Village, IL; tel. (847) 430-3887
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2001 Barolo Riserva Vignolo is an elegant, refined wine with a perfumed core of ripe red fruit, flowers and spices. It offers remarkable detail and nuance as well as superb length and elegant tannins to round out the finish. The only thing this very classic Barolo needs is a little bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021. Cavallotto is one of the hidden gems of Piedmont. Based in Castiglione Falletto, this traditionally-minded estate continues to build on the success of past vintages with a very strong set of wines. This year’s releases include the 2003 Barolo Bricco Boschis and the 2001 Barolo Riservas, all of which merit careful consideration. Readers who want to learn more about Cavallotto’s history may want to take a look at my recently published article in the Italy Report section of www.erobertparker.com. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2001 Barolo Riserva Vignolo is a terrific effort. This elegant, refined wine presents expressive, perfumed aromatics and sweet red fruit, with notable persistence and delineation on the palate. It is a finessed, superbly poised Barolo that will benefit from another few years of bottle age to soften the tannins, even if it is surprisingly accessible as well as irresistible today.
About the Producer
At the gates of Castiglione Falletto, in the heart of the Barolo Zone, on the slopes of the Bricco Boschis, one finds the Cavallotto Winery, which lies on 25 hectares of land. Since 1928, the Cavallotto family has owned the estate Tenuta Bricco Boschis. In 1946, they were the first cultivators in Castiglione Falletto to vinify all of their estate’s fruit. In 1948 they released the first bottling of their own BAROLO wine, with the label and registered trademark of Cavallotto. Today the children of Olivio – Laura, Giuseppe and Alfio, the 4th generation working the family farm – continue to exclusively vinify the grapes produced in their estate vineyards into DOC and DOCG wines: Barolo, Dolcetto d’Alba, Barbera d’Alba, Langhe Nebbiolo, Langhe Freisa, Langhe “Grign” made from Grignolino grapes, Langhe Chardonnay and “Pinner” made from Pinot Nero grapes.
