Cavallotto Barolo "Bricco Boschis" 2019
(Piedmont, Italy) - [WA 95] [DM 95] [WS 94]

The village of Castiglione Falletto is rich with superstars—Giuseppe Mascarello, Brovia, Vietti, Scavino—and Cavallotto stands easily with the best of them. Of this elite group, Cavallotto's wines stand out for their deep fruit, brooding structure, rose petal aromatics, and incredible longevity.

Most of Cavallotto's grapes come from a hill called Bricco Boschis. Cavallotto owns all of it. Thanks to a mostly southern exposure at high altitude and a complex mix of limestone and clay, it's considered one of the top crus of a village known for many great crus. Cavallotto's San Giuseppe Riserva is made from the best grapes from the vineyard's oldest vines, mid-slope.

Cavallotto's other Riserva comes from Vignolo. It is next door to Bricco Boschis and just a little lower down the slope. The wine tends to be less powerful and more floral, and is perfect for drinking on a slightly earlier timescale than the San Giuseppe.

95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"This estate is certainly the most prolific interpreter of the hilltop Bricco Boschis MGA in Castiglione Falletto. The Cavallotto 2019 Barolo Bricco Boschis (a certified organic wine) would benefit from more time in the bottle. I encountered many Barolos in 2019 that reveal a slightly reductive approach that bodes well for long cellaring. This wine is characterized by velvety black fruit that is framed by dusty nuances of crushed limestone. It builds focus and precision with more time in the glass. Some 18,800 bottles were released. 2025 - 2044"

95 Points - Decanter:
Alfio Cavallotto is one of the most traditional producers in Langhe. His winemaking is not only classic but old-fashioned: indigenous yeast, oak fermentation, almost no temperature control, and long maceration with submerged cap. His wines are dark and concentrated and this 2019 is no different. Earthy and smoky, it has dark cherry and blood orange aromas alongside plenty of dried fruits. There's firm acidity to the fore, as well as firm tannins, with great mid-palate extraction. There's ome stickiness on the gums now so it comes across as very austere at the moment, but it's very good on the finish. This deserves more time in bottle and consumers who appreciate the style. 2024 - 2045

94 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Expressive and complex, offering cherry, raspberry, floral, iron, tar and eucalyptus aromas and flavors. Shows a silky texture and a vibrant, well-integrated structure. Harmonious overall, lingering with generous detail on the finish. Best from 2026 through 2045. 2,500 cases made, 750 cases imported."

93 Points - Vinous:
The 2019 Barolo Bricco Boschis is an absolutely gorgeous wine that needs plenty of air to open. Bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, rose petal, cinnamon, star anise and mint all grace this mid-weight, wonderfully expressive Barolo. It has been some years since I have tasted a Cavallotto Barolo with this kind of translucent old-school classicism. (Drink between 2025-2034)