2019 Barolo Riserva Vignolo

After braving the sort of fog that is a rarity these days in Piedmont, I finally made it to Cavallotto to taste a wide range of wines, including the first vintages of Rocche di Castiglione and Villero, which will be released beginning with the 2022 vintage. As always, Cavallotto releases their wines a bit later than most, so these are the current wines in the market. The house style is best described as “updated traditional.” The Barolos see lengthy macerations and extended aging in cask, but the use of rotary fermenters gives the wines more mid-palate pliancy and fruit density that is typical of the most traditionally made Barolos. I would be remiss in not spending a word on the two 2018 Riservas, both of which are especially fine for vintage. I prefer to drink these Barolos with a bit of bottle age, as they can show some baby fat at the outset.