The 2015 Barolo Tre Tine is a pretty, gracious wine. In 2015, the Tre Tine is bright and lifted, especially in its aromatics. Crushed sweet red berries, mint, dried cherry and rose petal add to the wine's understated feel. Volatile acidity is just at the level where it is perceptible. Time in bottle is often a friend in helping VA meld into the fabric of a wine. It will be interesting to see if that happens here. For now, the 2015 Tre Tine is attractive, but also a bit quirky.

Full bodied and elegantly structured, this offers alluring aromas of woodland berry, wild herbs and camphor along with a whiff of forest floor. On the firm palate, taut, refined tannins offset juicy red cherry, pomegranate, star anise and a hint of tobacco. A hazelnut note lingers on the close. Drink 2023–2030. Kerin O'Keefe

This wine celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2016. Representing its 99th birthday, the 2015 Barolo Tre Tine is a blend of fruit from Ravera (60%), Le Coste (20%) and Cannubi San Lorenzo (20%). These sites encountered some challenges with hail in the 2014 vintage that resulted in a 30% loss of fruit. The Rinaldi family saw hail in the Brunate and Cerequio area in 2016. But the 2015 vintage saw smooth sailing and what winemaker Marta Rinaldi calls "a return to normalcy." She says fermentations proceeded beautifully and without any holdups. This Barolo opens to a medium-dark garnet color with bright fruit tones followed by licorice, tar and delicate balsam herb. The wine offers a degree of softness that comes through in the quality of the tannins and the texture of the mouthfeel.

2015 was warm: even during harvest temperatures reached 35°C, according to Marta. She did a shorter maceration than usual, only 20-24 days. Immediately expressive with gorgeous aromas of ripe summer berries on a background of balsam herbs, mint and moist earth. Gracefully proportioned, charming with succulent acidity yet still very tight on the finish. Nebbiolo’s grippy tannins sneak up. Needs a couple of years to reveal its nuances.
Drinking Window 2022 - 2038
Tasted by Michaela Morris
Part of Young guns of Italy: The winemakers to know about

Tasted blind. Mid ruby. Gorgeous, lifted, multi-layered nose of concentrated fruit and minerally, spicy hints. Generous and at the same time refreshing and succulent on the palate with perfectly built grainy tannic structure. Very long, supple and poised. (WS)