2016 Barolo del Comune di La Morra

The 2016 Barolo vintage will by all accounts be an all-time great, being the product of one of the longest growing seasons in modern times with ambient weather conditions throughout. This enabled Nebbolio to really reach phenolic maturity and mellow out. The growing cycle in 2016 was at least 15 – 20 days longer than today’s average in Barolo, thanks to the early start and relatively late harvest. In 2016, there really were 100 days plus between flowering and harvest – the golden rule that vignerons used to abide by but that has been becoming increasingly squeezed by climate change. The wines as deep, powerful and rich, with a great bouquet with lots of fruit aromas. Roberto Voerzio describes his wines in this vintage (which he compares to the excellent 1990 vintage) as having "bright colors, very intense, they are extremely rich of perfumes, with floral scents and fruity aromas of marasca cherries, redcurrant, raspberries, with citrus scents in some crus." The quality of the tannins are really outstanding; fine, elegant and very complex and there is good acidity too, making the wines even more drinkable and enjoyable. A truly great vintage is marked by a long drinking window, which comes down to the "extraordinary balance" of the 2016 Barolos. Many of the wines are already beautifully approachable now but with the structure, concentration and acidity to carry on evolving beautifully for many many years. Roberto confirms "they are great wines from the beginning, with a great ageing potential". The 2016 Barolo del Comune di la Morra shows an abundance of fleshy, rich and pulpy fruit – ripe cherries, raspberries, juicy plum – as well as crunchy red- and blackcurrant fruit. With a touch of spice and black pepper, and some fresh mint, it is also extremely polished and elegant. Super finessed tannins and vibrant acidity lend great structure, balance and energy. The long and subtly persistent finish manages to be both powerful and restrained. Very complete, very elegant, very Voerzio!