Quality level of the Barolo harvest years
Barolo 2021
8-9,5 - keep
Very good or even excellent? That is the question that cannot yet be answered definitively when it comes to the 2021 Barolos.Based on the feedback here in Piedmont and the wines we tasted from the tank, we can at least assume a very good vintage.
The 2021 Nebbiolo growing season was notably dry, somewhat comparable to 2017. However, likely due to the heavy snowfall of the previous winter and the relatively cool summer months, this did not result in significant stress for the vines. Additionally, regular rainfall in July and September contributed to a promising, relatively late harvest.
The Barolo wines will still need to prove themselves in the months and years ahead, but it can already be said that this vintage holds great potential—complexity, firm yet pleasant tannins, sufficient acidity, and a beautiful color.
Barolo 2020
8.5 - save for a while
decade, the first harvest years after 2020 will make us cheer less loudly.
Thanks to the warm temperatures in January and February, the growing season started quickly. The breakout of the bud was early .
In conclusion, the 2020 harvest is considered very good, more “finished” and elegant than 2019 , with possible differences in storage capacity.
Barolo 2019
9.5 - save
An unusually warm, dry winter was followed by a warm March that caused the vines to sprout 14 days earlier than "normal." A cold, rainy April and May delayed growth and flowering again by two weeks and also resulted in irregular fruit set and loose bunches. A warm June and a reasonable amount of rain in a very hot July resulted in vigorous growth.
2019 has developed into a very nice year, comparable to 2016 but ready to drink earlier.
Barolo 2018
7 - drink or store (drink nicely!)
A sigh of relief after a "fairly gloomy" 2017, with high volumes of good quality in all major varieties. The year started cool but ended warm, and the weather remained good throughout the harvest.
Feb 2024: 2018 is very nice right now. Smooth balanced wines with round tannins.
Barolo 2017
7.5 - drink or store (drink nicely!)
An exceptionally warm month in March resulted in early sprouting of the vines, after which frost in April caused a lot of damage. Drought also affected yields across the region and the summer heatwave resulted in a shorter than normal ripening period. Normally this inhibits aromatic development. Cool nights have preserved the characteristic high acidity of the wine.
Feb 2024: Beautifully drinking the 2017, in many cases more complex and structured than the 2018.
Barolo 2016
9.5 - drink or store
All of Piedmont produced wine of excellent quality in 2016, with a ripeness that matches the already very good 2015 but with firmer tannins and higher acidity. The ideal harvest conditions allowed the Nebbiolo to fully ripen and the yields were also higher than average.
Feb 2024: Great year. Were a bit dormant last year but can now be drunk again.
Barolo 2015
8.5 - drink or store (drink nicely!)
An exceptional harvest thanks to healthy grapes and exceptionally regular bunches. A very cold winter with lots of snow and a prolonged cool and rainy spring replenished the water reserves, which later turned out to be very necessary during one of the hottest Julys ever! Very nice vintage, even though some grapes had relatively low acidity.
Feb 2024: Very nice and drinkable year. Has developed beautifully from the start into a harmonious whole.
Barolo 2014
7.5 - drink or store (drink nicely!)
The second year in a row that a wet and cool spring followed a very wet winter. Temperatures rose in mid-May, resulting in regular and rapid fruit set that seemed to promise an early harvest and a generous yield. However, from the beginning of July the weather changed to cool and very wet with, especially in the Barolo zone, some heavy hail showers that spoiled all hopes for a great harvest year. The result was of varying quality, those who dared to postpone the harvest were still rewarded with a healthy, albeit small harvest.
Feb 2024: often wrongly criticized. 2014 produced very nice wines, especially from the better producers. Worth the risk.
Barolo 2013
9 - drink or store
Incessant rain in winter and spring delayed bud sprouting and opened the door to fungal diseases while many vineyards were too soggy for tractors to combat them. Temperatures shot up from mid-July and remained high into August, albeit with cooler nights. September was very sunny and dry, which ultimately resulted in a very nice year after a late harvest.
Feb 2024: had the pleasure of drinking many beautiful specimens over the years.
Barolo 2012
7.5 - drink or store
An unusually hot summer unexpectedly resulted in Nebbiolos with a low alcohol content and high acidity. A very cold February with an abundance of snow helped replenish water reserves. Prolonged cool weather, well into April, delayed bud emergence by two weeks. Then the weather became more regular with a warm July month, although with several local hailstorms which destroyed the harvest in several vineyards in Novello. August was exceptionally hot with temperatures well above 40ºC, causing the vines to stop growing. At the end of August, rain brought cooling and the (slow) ripening restarted. A dry autumn caused a delayed harvest. The best wines show beautiful acidity, balance and freshness. All in all a light vintage but with several excellent wines at the highest level.
Barolo 2011
7.5 - drink or store
A very hot year that nevertheless resulted in some very good, smooth, ripe but not cooked wines, even if the high alcohol content (15% and more) makes some wines unbalanced. A very warm April created expectations for a harvest four weeks earlier than normal. A noticeably cooler June and July slowed the growth cycle considerably, but August was again so hot that the Dolcetto was almost boiling. The rain in early September accelerated ripening again. Cool nights saved the Nebbiolo from over-ripeness, but the harvest was still two weeks earlier than normal.
Barolo 2010
9.5 - drink or store (drink nicely!)
A wet spring caused irregular fruit set and was followed by an early summer with lots of rain. Nebbiolo proved resilient thanks to its small berries and thick skin. August turned hot, but cool nights helped maintain acidity. Cooling rain in early September ensured slow but steady development of the fruit. Irregular fruit set forced some producers to apply strict selection during harvest, but the final result is considered excellent: a classic vintage with plenty of acidity, firm but ripe tannins and almost perfect balance in many wines.
Feb 2024: beautiful now.
Barolo 2009
7.5 - drink
A cold winter with lots of rain and snow delayed the start of the growth cycle. However, an unusually warm spring encouraged rapid sprouting and regular fruit set. It was still warm in June but a wet July increased the risk of mold in the vineyards and in some cases reduced yields. August was extremely hot and dry and remained so until mid-September. The lack of rain created water stress, causing irregular growth patterns across the region. The malic acid content was generally below average, while the tannins did not always fully ripen. The quality is spotty, with excellence juxtaposed with mediocrity. In contrast, none of the wines exhibit the stewed and dried fruit flavors of the equally torrid 2003 harvest.
Barolo 2008
8.5 - drink or store
The austerity of 2008 was not immediately recognized as a basic ingredient for a wine from which great vintages have been made. Although not without challenges for the vintners, a long and cool growing cycle resulted in healthy Nebbiolo grapes with thick skins full of extract and high sugar levels, balanced by high acidity. Grown into a wonderful year.
Feb 2024: spot on for years!
Barolo 2007
8 - drink or store
Hail and dry conditions resulted in a year with a low yield, but with good quality fruit.
Barolo 2006
8.5 - drink or store
A cool summer was followed by a warm late summer interrupted by two rainy periods, but the Nebbiolo grapes were strong enough to withstand them.
Barolo 2005
7 - drink or store
Reduced harvest of decent but not very special wines for medium-term drinking.
Barolo 2004
9 - drink or store
Very promising with few negative weather influences and well-balanced wines.
Barolo 2003
6.5 - drink or store
A heat wave shriveled the grapes and this resulted in unbalanced fruit, although the oldest vines in Barolo managed to withstand the extreme weather and produced some exceptional wines.
Barolo 2002
3 - throw away
Piedmont's long run of good to fantastic vintages was finally interrupted by a vintage that saw disastrous hailstorms in large parts of Barolo, rotten and unripe fruit resulting in an extremely small and poor quality harvest. A year to quickly forget.
Barolo 2001
9 - drink
Excellent quality (and quantity), early harvest and comparable to the exuberant vintages of 1999 and 1997. Good ripeness and structure but occasionally too low acidity.
Barolo 2000
9.5 - drink or store
Very good, partly thanks to a prolonged heat wave from mid-August to mid-September. Nebbiolo grapes were exceptionally good with excellent acidity and ripeness and great flavor definition. Storage wine.
Barolo 1999
8.5 - drink
Very good quality. Exuberant Barolo like in 1997.
Barolo 1998
8 - drink
Provided the right producer, some very fine, elegant wines.
Barolo 1997
8.5 - drink
A hot growing season resulted in record ripeness. Beautifully pronounced and full wines were alternated with a large number of wines with low acidity.
Barolo 1996
9.5 - drink or store
Brilliant year for Barolo. Lots of storage potential.
Barolo 1995
8.5 - drink
Rich harvest of grapes that benefited from a sunny autumn. Slightly lower in quality than the comparable years 1989 and 1990.
Barolo 1994
7 - drink
Reasonable sugar and acid levels despite prolonged rains in September.
Barolo 1993
7.5 - drink
No full ripening of the Nebbiolo due to autumn rains.
Barolo 1992
6.5 - drink
Large harvest, but little concentrated fruit.
Barolo 1991
7.5- drink
Small harvest of light to medium, early drinking wines.
1990
9.5 - drink
Powerful wines and exuberant aromas, Very exciting wines that will reward a long bottle aging.
Barolo 1989
10 - drink
Fantastic year, healthy fruit. Top Barolos.
Barolo 1988
8.5 - drink
Initially overrated, but nevertheless fine, interesting, balanced wines.
Barolo 1985
9 - drink
Risk... with a few exceptions, many wines "decayed" too early.
Barolo 1982
9.5 - drink or store (drink nicely!)
Very Bordeaux this vintage. Lots of storage potential.
Barolo 1978
10 - drink!
Formidable, almost aggressive wines that have developed at a snail's pace.
Barolo 1974
9 - drink
It's a bit in the shadow of '71, but definitely worth it.
Barolo 1971
10 - drink!
Classic Barolo: rare but well worth seeking out the famous Barolo producers of that time.