2014 Barolo Ravera

The Ravera cru of Novello is quietly growing in prestige and consistency. It is becoming one of the latest additions to an elite list of grand cru sites in the Barolo appellation. That quality is demonstrated in a difficult vintage such as this. The 2014 Barolo Ravera is a tight and polished expression with a glossy and gleaming personality. The fruit is fine-tuned and small in range, but it hits the senses with pinpoint precision. The wine shows the taut tightness of its youth and will flesh out with a few more years of cellar aging. Some 18,000 bottles were released.

Novello. Skin maceration for more than 40 days (!). MLF in stainless steel immediately after the alcoholic fermentation. Aged for 24 months in large Slavonian oak casks of 50, 30 and 25 hl. Lustrous mid ruby with orange tinges. Beautiful flowery cherry nose that is still a little bit reductive. Balsamic hint and a touch of liquorice. Supple and with savoury minerally impact on the palate. Gorgeous balance between savoury fruit and firm, savoury tannins, like sucking ripe stalks. This is clearly far from ready. (WS)

The Ravera cru of Novello is quietly growing in prestige and consistency. It is becoming one of the latest additions to an elite list of grand cru sites in the Barolo appellation. That quality is demonstrated in a difficult vintage such as this. The 2014 Barolo Ravera is a tight and polished expression with a glossy and gleaming personality. The fruit is fine-tuned and small in range, but it hits the senses with pinpoint precision. The wine shows the taut tightness of its youth and will flesh out with a few more years of cellar aging. Some 18,000 bottles were released. Sep 2018, www.robertparker.com