Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Vignolo 2012

Located just outside Castiglione Falletto in the heart of Barolo, Cavallotto’s 25-hectare estate, Tenuta Bricco Boschis, has been family-owned since 1928. In 1946, the Cavallotto family became the first in Castiglione Falletto to vinify their estate’s grapes, releasing their first Barolo in 1948 under their own label. Since the late '80s, Olivio's children—Alfio, Giuseppe, and Laura—have continued the family’s focus on growth and quality improvement. In 1989, they acquired 60% of the historic Vignolo Cru and introduced the Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Vignolo. They also launched a non-riserva Barolo, Cru Bricco Boschis, in 1995. The estate spans 25 hectares, with 17 hectares planted with Nebbiolo for Barolo, along with smaller plots of Dolcetto, Barbera, Freisa, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Grignolino. Since 1976, the Bricco Boschis vineyards have been managed without synthetic pesticides, using organic techniques and innovative practices such as natural antibiotics produced by bees. The family focuses on high-density planting, limited pruning, and green harvesting to further improve the quality of their grapes. Machine and tractor use is minimized to ensure continuous improvement in the vineyards and winery, producing wines of exceptional quality.

The Barolo Riserva Vignolo is one of Cavallotto’s top wines, made from 40-year-old vines. Aging is done in traditional Slavonian oak casks for 5 years, and then one year of bottle aging. The Riserva is only produced in exceptional years. The 2012 Barolo Riserva Vignolo is a wonderfully generous and richly layered wine. Its aroma is intense and open, evolving into delightful red fruit, cassis, and dried cherries. The bouquet takes you on a beautiful aromatic journey, staying true to the essence of Barolo. The fruit gives way to dark spices, roasted hazelnuts, and earthy notes. On the palate, the wine is intriguing and captivating, with its fleshy texture and generous, approachable fruit. This is a wine build for the cellar.

The 2012 vintage in Barolo was characterized by a warm growing season, with a hot summer followed by a cool and dry September, which allowed the Nebbiolo grapes to ripen perfectly. The wines from this vintage are rich and powerful, with good structure and balance. While the heat led to early ripening, the cooler autumn preserved freshness and acidity, resulting in wines with deep fruit flavors, complexity, and strong aging potential. Overall, 2012 is considered a very good to excellent vintage for Barolo, offering wines that are both accessible and capable of long-term aging.