Silvio Grasso Barolo DOCG, Piedmont, Italy 2019

The Grasso family has been producing wine since 1927; Federico Grasso started bottling in 1980, and has "produced a bevy of sensational efforts over recent vintages" (Robert Parker). His sophisticated, modern Barolos are particularly notable for avoiding excessive wood aromas; to this end, Grasso prefers to use large barrels rather than barriques for maturation, and uses less than 30% new wood even on his single-vineyard bottlings.

The estate, now in the hands of Federico Grasso supported by his wife Marilena and by his son Silvio, was founded in 1927 and boasts two hectares of southwest facing Nebbiolo vineyards in the fine La Morra crus of Luciani and Manzoni. In addition to Barolo Bricco Luciani and Barolo Ciabot Manzoni, the volcanic Federico, in order to enhance the character of the different plots that make up his property, has released three more Baroli (all made from vineyards standing in La Morra): a traditionally made wine (forty days of maceration with the skins and ageing in large Slavonian oak casks) and two single vineyard versions from the Giachini and Plicotti crus. These efforts have been rewarded by the Italian and the international press. The estate also produces two versions of Barbera, a Dolcetto, a Langhe Nebbiolo and a Nebbiolo d'Alba.