2018 Barolo

These are two very good wines from Pianpolvere Soprano, the sister estate of Rocche dei Manzoni. There are two wines. The flagship Riserva emerges from the estate's oldest vines and spends four years in new French oak, followed by six months or so in cement before being bottled. The non-Riserva Barolo is a newer offering, made from younger vines and with a bit less time in wood. While heavy French oak signatures work well at Rocche dei Manzoni, they can be a bit much here. My instincts say a more transparent approach would allow the pedigree of this site to shine through at its fullest. Bruno Giacosa and Gianfranco Soldera were among the greatest admirers of this vineyard during their lifetimes.