One of Kermit's Italian Treasures: Guido Porro

Guido Porro · Barolo DOCG · Vigna Rionda · 2021

Guido Porro Barolo “Vigna Rionda” 2021 expresses the depth, perfume and structure of this celebrated Serralunga d'Alba vineyard. Made from 100% Nebbiolo, it layers ripe red cherry and wild raspberry with rose petals, violets and dried herbs. Licorice, sweet tobacco and earthy mineral notes add complexity, while vibrant acidity and firm, refined tannins carry a long, savory finish.

The Producer & Vineyard

Fourth-generation winemaker Guido Porro follows traditional methods that emphasize vineyard character and Nebbiolo purity. Vigna Rionda lies in the Langhe hills of Piedmont, with calcareous clay and limestone soils supporting wines known for elegance, structure and long-term development.

The estate inherited 0.8 hectares in Vigna Rionda in 2011 and replanted with a massal selection from its oldest Lazzarito plot. The concentrated, fresh and refined 2021 vintage has earned particular praise for its aromatic lift, layered palate and persistence. Built for patient cellaring, this Barolo can develop greater aromatic complexity and a silkier texture with maturity.

Expert Reviews

Kerin O'Keefe, KerinOKeefe.com, 99 Points · 2021: "Guido Porro nailed the 2021 vintage as all the firm's Barolos demonstrate, especially the compelling Vigna Rionda. Still youthfully austere with racy tension, the structured, elegant palate delivers red cherry, strawberry compote, nutmeg and licorice set against a backbone of close-grained, velvety tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced and energized. An incredible showing. Drink 2036-2051. Abv: 15%"

Michaela Morris, Decanter, 98 Points · 2021: "Upon inheriting 0.8ha in Vignarionda in 2011, the estate replanted the vineyard with a massal selection from their oldest plot in Lazzarito. Despite the young age of vines, this exhibits extraordinary profundity, character and breed. It unfurls slowly with heady florals, toasted hazelnut and smoky incense. The palate is still tightly knit around a matrix of sweet, rich berries, tangy pomegranate, violet and chestnut. Long, silky tannins are seamlessly integrated but not ready to yield their commanding grip. Piercing and persistent in length. Soulfully satisfying, this is among the top wines of the vintage."

Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 97 Points · 2021: "The 2021 Barolo Vignarionda is a total knockout. Crushed rose petal, kirsch, mint, blood orange, sweet spice and candy are all beautifully lifted. This is the first Porro Rionda that captures the haunting inner perfume, the sweetness, the finesse that are all at the heart of what makes Rionda one of the very top sites in Barolo. Readers will find a wine of beguiling complexity and class."

Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, 96 Points · 2021: "Pouring a jeweled ruby hue, the 2021 Barolo Vignarionda is the most layered wine in the lineup. Aromas of wild raspberries, licorice, alpine herbs, and dark stones emerge from the glass. Medium-bodied but expansive on the palate, it brings forward mouthwatering energy with bright acidity and ripe tannins. Sweet citrus and mineral notes carry through the long finish. Drink 2026-2046."

Pairing & Serving

Pair with braised beef, roasted lamb, wild game, porcini mushrooms, truffle risotto or aged cheeses. For near-term enjoyment, consider decanting and serving slightly below room temperature. The critics offer different drinking windows: Audrey Frick suggests 2026–2046, while Kerin O'Keefe recommends 2036–2051.

Details

• Producer: Guido Porro
• Vintage: 2021
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Country: Italy
• Region: Piedmont
• Subregion: Langhe, Serralunga d'Alba
• Appellation: Barolo DOCG
• Vineyard: Vigna Rionda
• Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
• Type: Red wine
• Style: Dry, structured
• Soils: Calcareous clay and limestone
• Winemaking: Traditional methods
• Aging potential: Suitable for long-term cellaring

Guido Porro · Dolcetto d'Alba DOC · Vigna Pari · 2020

Guido Porro Dolcetto d'Alba “Vigna Pari” 2020 is a rich, expressive Piedmont red made from 100% Dolcetto. Ripe blackberry, dark cherry, plum and wild-berry aromas mingle with earth, spice and smoke. Juicy dark fruit, gentle tannins and a savory finish give this dry, medium-bodied wine an approachable balance of depth and freshness.

The Producer & Vineyard

Fourth-generation winemaker Guido Porro works in Serralunga d'Alba, in the Langhe hills of Piedmont. Vigna Pari occupies a prime position at the top of the Lazzarito hillside, overlooking vineyards devoted to Barolo. Rather than a secondary slope often reserved for Dolcetto, this site benefits from excellent sun exposure and clay-limestone soils that support concentration and character.

Traditional production and minimal intervention preserve the wine's Piedmontese identity. Sustainable farming and the vineyard's favorable growing conditions underpin a Dolcetto suited to everyday meals as well as a generous Italian dinner.

Pairing & Serving

Pair with hearty lasagna, pasta with meat sauce, roasted chicken, grilled sausages, mushroom risotto, pizza or aged Italian cheeses. Try serving slightly below room temperature to highlight its fruit and freshness.

Details

• Producer: Guido Porro
• Vintage: 2020
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Country: Italy
• Region: Piedmont
• Subregion: Langhe, Serralunga d'Alba
• Appellation: Dolcetto d'Alba DOC
• Vineyard: Vigna Pari, Lazzarito Cru
• Grape: 100% Dolcetto
• Type: Red wine
• Style: Dry, medium-bodied
• Soils: Clay and limestone
• Farming: Sustainable
• Production: Traditional, minimal intervention
• Alcohol: 13%

Guido Porro · Barolo DOCG · Vigna Santa Caterina · 2020

Guido Porro Barolo “Vigna Santa Caterina” 2020 is an elegant, traditionally crafted Nebbiolo from Serralunga d'Alba in Piedmont. Ripe red cherries and raspberries meet dried rose petals, violets, licorice and sweet spice, with earthy mineral notes adding depth. Vibrant acidity and polished tannins support a harmonious palate and a long, graceful finish.

The Producer & Vineyard

The family-owned Guido Porro estate emphasizes vineyard character and the purity of Nebbiolo through traditional winemaking. While Serralunga d'Alba is known for powerful, age-worthy Barolo, Vigna Santa Caterina offers a particularly graceful and approachable expression without sacrificing depth, aromatic complexity or structure.

Expert Reviews

Kerin O'Keefe, 95 Points · 2020: The 2020 Vigna Santa Caterina has enticing aromas of rose, violet and vineyard dust while the juicy, delicious palate boasts great red berry fruit, star anise and baking spice. Chalky, chewy tannins provide polished support.

Jeb Dunnuck, 94 Points · 2020: The medium ruby-colored 2020 Barolo V.S. Caterina is forward with aromas of toasted spices, cedar, raspberries, smoke, and wild herbs. I really enjoy the freshness of these wines, which offer ripe acidity balanced with elegant concentration of fruit. A medium-framed wine, it has good length and a refreshing and approachable feel, with notes of apricot on the finish and only a touch of warmth. Very nicely done, this wine can be enjoyed now through 2036

Pairing & Serving

Pair with braised beef, roasted lamb, mushroom risotto, truffle pasta or aged cheeses. Allow time to aerate for near-term enjoyment, or cellar for further development. The Jeb Dunnuck review recommends enjoyment through 2036.

Details

• Producer: Guido Porro
• Vintage: 2020
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Country: Italy
• Region: Piedmont
• Subregion: Langhe, Serralunga d'Alba
• Appellation: Barolo DOCG
• Vineyard: Vigna Santa Caterina
• Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
• Type: Red wine
• Style: Dry, medium- to full-bodied
• Winemaking: Traditional methods
• Cellaring potential: Excellent

Guido Porro · Barolo DOCG · Vigna Lazzairasco · 2021

Guido Porro Barolo “Vigna Lazzairasco” 2021 is a traditionally crafted Nebbiolo from the Lazzarito cru in Serralunga d'Alba. Ripe red cherry, raspberry and rose-petal aromas mingle with orange peel, licorice, mint, crushed stone and earthy spice. Layers of red fruit, blood orange and savory herbs unfold over vibrant acidity and firm, fine-grained tannins, carrying a long finish with freshness and depth.

The Producer & Vineyard

Fourth-generation winemaker Guido Porro emphasizes the character of the vineyard through traditional methods. Vigna Lazzairasco, described in the Jeb Dunnuck review as the estate's oldest vineyard, lies on clay and limestone soils within Serralunga d'Alba's Lazzarito cru. The site produces wines prized for concentration, complexity and cellaring potential.

Made from 100% Nebbiolo, the wine undergoes extended maceration before aging for three years in large Slavonian oak barrels. This approach preserves fruit purity while developing the layered character of classic Barolo. The 2021 combines substantial structure with balance and aromatic refinement.

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck, 94 Points · 2021: A transparent medium ruby hue, the 2021 Barolo Vigna Lazzairasco comes from the estate’s oldest vineyard. Aromas of preserved cranberries, cherries, orange peel, mint, and crushed stones lead the profile. Medium-bodied, it floats across the palate with silky texture and saline sapidity, supported by balanced acidity and subtle cocoa notes. The fruit remains supple and fresh with good persistence and depth.

Vinous, 94 Points · 2021: The 2021 Barolo V. Lazzairasco is redolent of sweet red cherry, chalk, mint, white pepper and blood orange. Brisk acids and beams of supporting tannin give the 2021 its shape and taut, savory profile. Iron, graphite, scorched earth and incense develop later, adding further layers of nuance. I would prefer to cellar this for a few years.

Additional Review Summaries

Kerin O'Keefe, 97 Points · 2021 · Summary: Praises the wine's precision, aromas of roses and woodland berries, concentrated red fruit, and firm, finely textured tannins. Recommended drinking window: 2031-2046.

Decanter, 96 Points · 2021 · Summary: Highlights its dark red berry character, savory herbal complexity, firm but well-integrated tannins, and excellent aging potential.

Pairing & Serving

Pair with braised beef, roasted lamb, wild game, porcini mushrooms, truffle risotto or aged Parmigiano Reggiano. For near-term enjoyment, consider decanting and serving slightly below room temperature. Built for patient cellaring, the wine has potential through 2040 and beyond; the Kerin O'Keefe summary recommends 2031–2046.

Details

• Producer: Guido Porro
• Vintage: 2021
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Country: Italy
• Region: Piedmont
• Subregion: Langhe, Serralunga d'Alba
• Appellation: Barolo DOCG
• Vineyard: Vigna Lazzairasco, Lazzarito Cru
• Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
• Type: Red wine
• Style: Dry, structured
• Soils: Clay and limestone
• Winemaking: Traditional, extended maceration
• Aging: Three years in large Slavonian oak barrels
• Alcohol: 15%
• Cellaring potential: Through 2040 and beyond

Guido Porro · Barolo DOCG · Vigna Gianetto · 2024

Guido Porro Barolo “Vigna Gianetto” is a traditionally crafted, 100% Nebbiolo from Serralunga d'Alba in Piedmont's Langhe hills. The Gianetto vineyard is known for aromatic elegance, an approachable structure and a refined, savory character.

The Producer & Vineyard

Fourth-generation winemaker Guido Porro emphasizes Nebbiolo purity and the distinctive character of each vineyard. Gianetto's limestone and clay soils contain a higher proportion of sand than Porro's other Barolo sites, contributing to its graceful expression.

Wine Style

This bottling typically offers ripe cherry, wild strawberry, rose-petal and violet aromas, complemented by spice, dried herbs and earthy minerals. Vibrant acidity and fine-grained tannins frame a balanced palate and lingering, savory finish. Traditional aging in large, neutral Slavonian oak barrels allows the fruit and vineyard character to remain central.

Pairing & Serving

Pair with braised beef, roasted lamb, wild mushrooms, truffle dishes or aged cheeses. For near-term enjoyment, consider decanting and serving slightly below room temperature. Its structure also lends itself to cellaring.

Details

• Producer: Guido Porro
• Vintage: 2024
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Country: Italy
• Region: Piedmont
• Subregion: Langhe, Serralunga d'Alba
• Appellation: Barolo DOCG
• Vineyard: Gianetto
• Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
• Type: Red wine
• Style: Dry, full-bodied
• Soils: Limestone and clay, with a relatively high proportion of sand
• Winemaking: Traditional methods
• Aging vessels: Large, neutral Slavonian oak barrels

Guido Porro · Barbera d'Alba DOC · Vigna Santa Caterina · 2025

Guido Porro Barbera d'Alba “Vigna Santa Caterina” 2025 is a vibrant, fruit-driven Piedmont red made from 100% Barbera. Ripe red cherries, wild berries and plums mingle with delicate floral notes and a touch of spice. Lively acidity and soft tannins give the medium-bodied palate freshness and balance, leading to a smooth, juicy finish.

The Producer & Vineyard

The family-owned Guido Porro estate works in the hills of Serralunga d'Alba, in Piedmont's Langhe. Generations of traditional winemaking and a close connection to the local terroir shape its wines. Vigna Santa Caterina produces Barbera with concentration and freshness, highlighting the grape's natural vibrancy and approachable character.

Pairing & Serving

A versatile choice for the table, pair with pasta, pizza, roasted meats, grilled vegetables or aged cheeses. Try serving slightly below room temperature to highlight its fresh fruit and lively acidity.

Details

• Producer: Guido Porro
• Vintage: 2025
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Country: Italy
• Region: Piedmont
• Subregion: Langhe, Serralunga d'Alba
• Appellation: Barbera d'Alba DOC
• Vineyard: Vigna Santa Caterina
• Grape: 100% Barbera
• Type: Red wine
• Style: Dry, medium-bodied