The 2021 Barolo Cerequio marries elegance and power in the way only Nebbiolo can. Bright acids and strong floral inflections run through this mid-weight yet dense, layered wine. All the elements are deftly woven together. This nuanced, finely sketched Barolo has always been compelling, as it is again today.

Choices, choices, choices... The Vietti 2021 Barolo Cerequio is another classic from this over-performing estate. This parcel was purchased in 2018 from the Chiarlo family (the Krause family acquired Vietti in 2016), and although the location is La Morra, the site behaves more like Sarmassa in Barolo, creating wines with a firm, tight entry and good structure. You could say that it has a nervous character now in its adolescence, and of course we expect it to smooth out and find harmony with time. Fruit was harvested on September 30th, and the wine sees 27 days of extended skin maceration. Compared to Brunate, which is always darker in character, the Cerequio is lighter and brighter with pretty primary fruit. Production is 4,890 bottles.

La Morra. Lustrous and just mid ruby. Concentrated red-fruit nose that becomes more perfumed with aeration. Full raspberry palate with firm, slightly astringent tannins that play up on the finish. A little rustic right now, but in due course everything will fall into place. (WS)