Giovanni Rosso - Barolo 'Del Comune di Serralunga D'Alba' 2021

Although the Rosso family has been tending vines in Serralunga d’Alba for more than a century, Azienda Agricola Giovanni Rosso has only been a label since 1995, when Davide Rosso took the helm. Davide is a conscientious man who studied at Domaine Jean Grivot and Domaine Denis Mortet. This Burgundian training is evident in his vines, which are grown organically with no pesticides or herbicides. His wines reflect terroir first and foremost. And what terroir! Grapes come from the famed Crus of La Serra, Cerretta, Broglio, Meriame, Sorano, Costa Bella, Lirano, and Damiano.

In July of 2016, Davide purchased a small vineyard of decades-old vines on the northern slope of Mount Etna. He plans to vinify small lots of indigenous varietal Nerello Mascalese (a bit like Nebbiolo, but with thicker skin to withstand the Sicilian sun). As Wine Spectator’s Robert Camuto reported, “Rosso won’t be the first Piemontese to make wine on Etna; Piedmont enologists have been consulting there for years. But he is being heralded — and largely welcomed — as the first high-profile Barolista to expand here.”

Fermentation occurs with wild yeasts in cement tanks without temperature control; wines age in 5000 litre French oak barrels. This is a departure from tradition, which would see these made of Slovenian oak. Although a young winery, Giovanni Rosso has quickly proven to be one of the best in the region.

Following harvest in mid-October, the wine was slowly fermented over 25 days in cement tanks by native yeast. Following fermentation, the wine aged in large French oak casks for 18 to 36 months, depending on the vineyard of origin, before it was bottled unfiltered.

"Sweet dark cherries and fresh garden mint intertwine with cinnamon sticks and star anise, while threads of tar and earth provide the deep bass notes that make Serralunga famous. The palate reveals why this village earned its powerhouse reputation: waves of pure fruit roll across crushed chalk minerality, building to a finale of spent tea leaves and bitter chocolate. A wine that flexes its muscles while wearing its finest silk suit, showing why Serralunga remains Barolo's center of gravitational force. Drink Now - 2045" - 94 Points, Wine Enthusiast

"A clear jeweled and deeper ruby color, the 2021 Barolo Del Comune Di Serralunga D'Alba was also tasted from barrel and offers up notes of cherry lozenge, rosemary, and crushed flowers. I like this wine a lot for its weightless feel but incredible persistence and depth. It’s an exceptional vintage for this wine already."  - 92-95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

Producer: Giovanni Rosso

Country: Italy

Region: Piedmont

Varietal: Nebbiolo

Appellation: Barolo

Vintage: 2021

Size: 750ml