2016 Trediberri and Einaudi Barolo
Sometimes you see a set of wines that takes the sensory experience beyond flavour. The 2016 Barolos have hit our shores and the experience is an emotional one.
The perfection in maturity of the fruit and tannins are matched by dynamic, fresh acidity and have rendered the tannins incredibly fine and silky, yet at the same time structured and in classic Nebbiolo fashion, stretching across and coating the entire palate. The perfumes from 2016 take Barolo to the next level!
If there is one region that I have personally “gone long” on over the past 5 plus years, it is Piedmont. 2016 will be one of those vintages we will be talking about for years.
Today it is my pleasure to offer you, arguably the best valued and under rated Barolo on the market – Trediberri, along with 3 single vineyard Crus from Poderi Luigi Einaudi.
2016 Barolo Trediberri DOCG – $75 per bottle, $185 per magnum (limited)
The grapes come from vineyards located in La Morra, within the hamlets Berri and Capalot. The wine ages for about 2 years in Slavonian oak, then it is blended in steel or concrete and it is bottled in July, 6-7 months before its release.
“It’s still fine, red fruited and perfumed, but there’s an extra dimension of power and vitality in 2016. Cherry, new leather, liquorice root, mint and sage. Tannin is sure and has a graphite quality, and while there’s this cherry/plum candy succulence, it’s also pretty tense and tightly wound as a youngster. Acidity is fresh. Finish is long and clean, with brick dust tannin trailing. In short, the answer is yes.” 95 points Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.
“The 2016 Barolo is a powerful, deep wine that is going to need time to soften and further open up. Black cherry, plum, spice, leather, dried herbs and menthol infuse the 2016 with notable aromatic depth as well as a palpable sense of brooding, virile intensity to match its classically built, mid-weight structure. This is an especially potent vintage for the straight Barolo, and there is clearly so much going on in the glass; it is a superb wine in the making. The Barolo is a blend of 80% Berri and 20% Rocche dell’Annunziata.” 94 points Antonio Galloni
Fourth generation at Poderi Luigi Einaudi, Matteo Sardagna has spent the past 20 years working fastidiously on making the wines in the style and manner that he wants. Matteo has invested in a cellar expansion which includes a full tank room of magnificent cement fermenters, and has replaced small with traditional large Slavonian oak for all his Cru Barolo wines.
2016 Barolo ‘Bussia’ Einaudi DOCG – $178 per bottle
Born from the vineyards of Bussia in Monforte d’Alba, the unique mineral component of the Bussia terroir gives the wine great structure, an intense colour, defined tannins and a long and consistent finish. The scent of red fruits such as raspberry and pomegranate work in synergy with some more brooding spice elements. A wine that is agile for a long evolution in the bottle, up to 25-30 years and more in the best vintages.
“Medium to deep red to brick-red colour with subtle tawny tints. The bouquet is deep and brooding, complex and very savoury but with chocolaty richness together with ironstone, earth, humus and ‘rusty metal’ nuances. The palate is more full-bodied than the Terlo or Ludo, with fleshy richness, generosity and amplitude. Lots of extract and great penetration. A superb wine, with a long-lasting finish.” 96 points Huon Hooke, The Real Review.
“Sweet spiced cherries, red berries, dried flowers, mint and liquorice. It’s full bodied, plenty of flavour, replete with furry mouth-coating tannin, good freshness, a bit of new leather in there too, certainly kind of brick dusty on the finish, courtesy of all that tannin. Nicely turned out. Site talks confidently.” 95 points Gary Walsh , The Wine Front
2016 Barolo ‘Cannubi’ Einaudi DOCG – $178 per bottle
This is arguably the most famous cru of all, and what makes Cannubi so special is that both older and newer soils exist here; thus the Barolos from Cannubi have beautiful floral notes but are more tannic than bottlings from other Barolo cru.
“Medium to deep red to brick colour with trace of tawny; the bouquet combining dried herbs and chocolate with ironstone, earthy and humus notes. Very savoury and lingering, with abundant drying tannins. It’s full-bodied and powerful, deep and dense and really fills the mouth. There’s a lot fruit sweetness buried deep within the formidable framework. A big and satisfying Barolo.” 96 points Huon Hooke, The Real Review.
“Cherry, strawberry and rhubarb, mint, rose petals, a little spice, perhaps a touch of small format oak in the mix, though I can’t be sure, and it’s pretty discreet, regardless. Red fruit, supple and slinky, a fine perfume and lightness, spiced orange, some liquorice too, and a long and composed finish. Pleasing sense of delicacy, combined with succulence here.”
95 points Gary Walsh , The Wine Front.
2016 Barolo ‘Terlo’ Vigna Costa Grimaldi Einaudi – $135
The result of an accurate selection of grapes from the Einaudi vineyard located at Barolo, in the zone of Terlo. This wine has a lighter frame but embraces a remarkable fragrance (cranberry, pot purri), elegant and refined tannins, with a long spiced finish and a savoury complexity.
“Medium to full red colour with brick-red tints and some chocolaty notes adding to the ironstone, fresh-earth and savoury mineral notes. Humus and dried herbs. The palate is slightly richer and more fleshy than the Ludo, with a lot of similarities but a bit more roundness and amplitude.” 93 points Huon Hooke, The Real Review
“Dark cherry, tar, spice, menthol and liquorice, with some floral perfume. It’s dense and brooding, clenched jaw, tightly packed tannin, freshness to acidity lending balance, savoury pipe tobacco things happening, fruit present but structure dominant, at this early stage. Finish is long, packed with tannin, and tar and tea aftertaste. I like its style, but a wine needing a number of years to roll itself out.” 94+ points Gary Walsh , The Wine Front.
The greatest wines from the best producers do hail from the greatest vintages and 2016 is one such year. Such a strong vintage showing typicity and clearly defined tannins and remarkable freshness. These wines have a unique approachability as young wines but will age beautifully, so if you are stocking up your cellar don’t miss this opportunity!
If you would like to acquire some please get in touch via our CONTACT US PAGE. If delivery is needed it is a further $10 per case.
Kind Regards,
John Cuff
Head Keeper of the Bottles