In the northernmost commune of Barolo, perched in a castle that has stood since the early 1500s, the Burlotto family has quietly produced some of the most elegant Nebbiolo in Piedmont. Castello di Verduno has been theirs since 1909, and the Massara vineyard — planted on the chalky Marne di Sant’Agata soils that define the commune’s signature minerality — is among its finest expressions.
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In the northernmost commune of Barolo, perched in a castle that has stood since the early 1500s, the Burlotto family has quietly produced some of the most elegant Nebbiolo in Piedmont. Castello di Verduno has been theirs since 1909, and the Massara vineyard — planted on the chalky Marne di Sant’Agata soils that define the commune’s signature minerality — is among its finest expressions.
The 2022 Massara is, by any measure, a seriously impressive Barolo. Vinified in open-top wooden vats with an extended maceration using the traditional submerged cap method, then aged in large Austrian and Slavonian botti grandi, it carries the full weight of its terroir with uncommon grace. Bottled unfined and unfiltered — nothing added, nothing taken away.
On the nose: macerated cherry, new leather, spice, and pomegranate with an exotic, almost heady complexity. The palate is broad and ample, with a lovely textural intensity and a seamless mid-palate carried effortlessly by fine, ripe tannins through a long and structured finish. A standout of the vintage.
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Producer: Castello di Verduno
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Appellation: Barolo DOCG — Verduno, Piedmont, Italy
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Vineyard: Massara — Marne di Sant’Agata (30% sand, 55% clay, 15% limestone)
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Varietal: 100% Nebbiolo
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Viticulture: Practicing organic, hand-harvested
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Bottling: Unfined & unfiltered
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Drink: Now through 2040+
Expert Review - Vintage 2022:
94 Vinous — “Seriously impressive… broad and ample, with a lovely level of textural intensity and complexity that is exceedingly rare in this vintage.”
Food Pairings: Braised short ribs, roast lamb, truffle risotto, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, wild boar ragù.
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