2020 Paolo Scavino Barolo Prapo

Dark red in color, the 2020 Barolo Prapo displays a riper and sunnier profile, with rich aromas of black cherries, lavender oil, balsamic, and tarry earth. Medium to full-bodied, it’s weightless on the palate, with a savory note of tea leaf upfront as well as hints of cherry pit and walnut, and it has a long finish. It’s a bit more broad-shouldered but wears it with a graceful touch. Drink 2026-2046. Helmed by fourth generation winemaker Elisa Scavino, the estate owns and manages 30 hectares spanning eight of the 11 communes of the Barolo region and is based in Castiglione Falletto. Sadly, Elisa’s father Enrico Scavino passed away earlier this year at the age of 82. He was an active part of his family’s winery until his passing. Since 2007, they have implemented the use of a netted, submerged cap cylindrical system developed by Enrico that achieves a delicate extraction during fermentation. They have moved to slower, longer fermentation periods and, as of 2018, are solely utilizing large casks. In the vineyard, they pay great attention to the soils' compression, creating a sustainable ecosystem rich in oxygen and microorganisms and a sustainable approach. Their most recent acquisitions include those of Prapo and Ravera in 2015. Having lost their contract for Cannubi, they are no longer producing what was known as the Barolo Carobric, of which the Cannubi fruit was a major component. I continue to be impressed with the direction these wines have been taking toward a more expressive and pure sense of place, with wonderful diversity across the portfolio. I had the chance to taste the wines for this report twice.

The 2020 Barolo Prapò is another impressive wine from the Scavino family in this vintage. Dark and somber, with plenty of Serralunga tannin, the 2020 impresses with its superb balance and class. Dark fruit, iron, leather, menthol and espresso build as this dramatic, wonderfully resonant Barolo shows off its stylish personality. Elegance and power.