Vietti Barolo 2022 is the classic Barolo from Vietti of Castiglione Falletto, blended from Nebbiolo grown in 22 officially defined vineyard areas across the Barolo zone. It shows rose, raspberry, red cherry and tobacco. Antonio Galloni, Monica Larner and Michaela Morris each rated it 93 POINTS. A great wine for anyone who enjoys charming, approachable Barolo.
In the glass it shows a ruby colour of medium intensity, with plum, blackberry and sour cherry on the nose, then a rich palate with alpine herbs and well-integrated tannins.
This is a wine for those of us who enjoy Barolo that is welcoming while young. It's a fantastic weekend wine, best enjoyed with great food.
In 2022 the blend includes the best grapes from Vietti's Brunate and Cerequio vineyards, which were not bottled on their own that year.
What it tastes like
The wine has a slender, pliant frame for a Barolo. Antonio Galloni found sweet red cherry, cedar, pipe tobacco, mint and dried flowers building in the glass. Michaela Morris noted rose potpourri, bergamot and sweet earth, with brisk acidity and assertive tannins, while Monica Larner picked up blackcurrant and wild plum and called it an approachable and charming introduction to Nebbiolo. It's sophisticated and classic.
Style at a glance
- Body: Medium
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Brisk
- Tannin: Firm and well-integrated
- Oak: 30 months, mostly in large barrels with a small portion in barriques, adding cedar and spice
- Style: Classic, approachable blended Barolo
Food to enjoy this with
- Brasato al Barolo, beef braised in red wine
- Tajarin pasta with butter and shaved truffle
- Roast veal with rosemary
- Mushroom risotto
- Aged Parmigiano Reggiano
- Roast duck with a cherry sauce: an unexpected match, as the sauce picks up the wine's red cherry fruit
Who makes it
The family made wine here in the 1800s, but it was in 1919 that Mario Vietti turned the farm to winemaking and the first Vietti labels appeared in Italy. His son-in-law Alfredo Currado pioneered single-vineyard Barolo and Barbaresco, and he almost single-handedly revived the Arneis grape, now Roero Arneis DOCG.
Vietti is now owned by the Krause family, with Eugenio Palumbo as winemaker, and farms 75 hectares across the Langhe, Roero, Asti and Colli Tortonesi. Vietti also makes the Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco and Barbera d'Asti La Crena.
This wine replaced Vietti's long-standing Barolo Castiglione. The grapes come from vineyards in several Barolo villages, on limestone and clay-rich soils, with Guyot-trained vines 10 to 45 years old.
Each MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva, an officially defined vineyard area) is fermented and aged separately. Fermentation lasts 3 to 4 weeks in stainless steel with the cap of skins kept submerged, malolactic fermentation takes place in wood, and the wine ages for 30 months before the crus are blended and bottled. For the 2022 vintage, about 70,000 bottles were made.
About the vintage
Michaela Morris of Decanter reported a severe, prolonged drought and high summer temperatures in 2022, leading to an early harvest. Yields fell by roughly 20 to 45%, but the grapes were healthy, and localised hail hit Barolo and La Morra in late June. Growers kept leaves on the vines to shade the fruit, and some used kaolin clay as a sunscreen.
She found the wines surprisingly fragrant and fruit-expressive, generally round, and mostly ready or nearly ready to drink. Aldo Fiordelli of JamesSuckling.com reported that the harvest came 10 to 20 days earlier than average.
Critic scores and ratings
- 93 POINTS – Antonio Galloni – Vinous
"The 2022 Barolo is terrific. Pliant, medium in body and layered, the 2022 is impeccable. It benefits from the inclusion of fruit from Brunate, Cerequio and Villero, none of which were bottled as vineyard-designates. Sweet red cherry, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, mint and dried flowers build nicely in the glass. The 2022 is slender, as so many wines are in this vintage."
- 93 POINTS – Monica Larner – The Wine Advocate
"The Vietti 2022 Barolo offers clean, classic lines with aromas of blackcurrant and wild plum that emerge slowly from a somewhat reserved bouquet. Readers may remember from last year's report that this wine replaced the long-standing Barolo Castiglione. Although the word 'Castiglione' still appeared in small type on the 2021 label, it has now been removed entirely to reflect the wine's broader blend from 22 MGAs across the appellation. Despite the warmth of the vintage, this release promises an approachable and charming introduction to Nebbiolo with a near- to medium-term drinking window. Production is an ample 70,000 bottles."
- 93 POINTS – Michaela Morris – Decanter
"Vietti's classic Barolo stands shoulder to shoulder with its single MGA bottlings. In fact, this vintage's blend includes the best grapes from Brunate and Cerequio, as these weren't bottled separately in 2022. It is vibrantly perfumed with rose potpourri, bergamot, sweet earth and raspberry. Sculpted and tight, the palate is assertively structured. Upfront tannins slice through supple fruit and acidity is brisk. The finish is a bit arid but, as a whole, this remains sophisticated. Mint and tobacco linger. This is a strong argument for blending in 2022."
When to drink it
It's approachable already. Monica Larner gives a drinking window of 2026 to 2037, Michaela Morris 2027 to 2036 and Antonio Galloni 2027 to 2034, so enjoy it now and through to 2037.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Vietti |
| Wine: |
Barolo |
| Vintage: |
2022 |
| Variety: |
100% Nebbiolo |
| Region: |
Barolo, Piedmont |
| Country: |
Italy |
| Classification: |
Barolo DOCG |
| Oak: |
30 months, mostly large barrels, a small portion in barriques |
| Fermentation: |
3 to 4 weeks in stainless steel; malolactic in wood |
| Closure: |
Cork |
| Cellaring: |
2026 to 2037 (Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate) |
Where to buy
The Vietti Barolo 2022 is available online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. Online and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines.
Questions we are often asked
Is Vietti Barolo the same as Vietti Barolo Castiglione?
Yes. It replaced the long-standing Barolo Castiglione, and from 2022 the word Castiglione no longer appears on the label.
Which vineyards go into Vietti Barolo 2022?
It is blended from 22 MGAs across the Barolo zone, and in 2022 it includes fruit from Brunate, Cerequio and Villero.
Is Vietti Barolo 2022 ready to drink?
Yes. The Wine Advocate's window opens in 2026, and Vinous expects it to drink well through to 2034.
How many bottles of Vietti Barolo 2022 were made?
About 70,000 bottles, according to The Wine Advocate.
What food goes with Vietti Barolo?
Braised beef, truffle pasta, roast veal, mushroom risotto and aged hard cheeses all suit it.
Where can I buy Vietti Barolo 2022?
The Winery sells Vietti Barolo 2022 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
