Luigi Einaudi Barolo "Ludo" DOCG 2021
(Piedmont, Italy) - [JS 94] [WS 94] [JD 93] [WA 93] [DM 92] [WE 92] [VM 90]

About the Winery:
The first of the Einaudi estates (poderi) were purchased back in 1897 by 23-year-old Luigi Einaudi at San Giacomo, near Dogliani, in the heart of Dolcetto country. (Einaudi went on to become Italy's first President!) Granddaughter Paola Einaudi, her son Matteo Sardagna, and Giorgio Ruffo - together with vineyard director Zvonimir Jurkovic and winemaker Beppe Caviola - have proven a winning team, turning the oldest wine property in the Dogliani area into a cutting-edge classic.

Today, run by Matteo, the total surface area of the property, which is made up of over a dozen farmsteads, is almost 400 acres, over 100 of which are under vine, with additional new properties both owned and leased throughout the hills of Barolo. Podere Luigi Einaudi is grandfathered into the Barolo appellation even through the winery is physically located just outside those boundaries.

Notes from the Winemaker:
A wine of great class that expresses the characteristics of the individual sub-zones from which the grapes that compose it come from, in particular the power of Bussia (in Monforte d’Alba) sweetened by the elegance of Cannubi (in Barolo) in a perfect balance guaranteed by Terlo (Village of Barolo). With the vintage 2017 we will add also the grapes of Monvigliero (In Verduno).

Variety composition: Nebbiolo 100%

Ageing: 24 months in French oak followed by 12 months in bottle.

Alcohol content: 14.50% 

Total acidity: 5.23 g/l

Tasting Notes:
A fresh and fragrant nose with cherries, dried cranberries, hints of rose hips, sandalwood, and dried orange. Juicy on the palate, medium-bodied with dusty tannins and a savory red fruit character and crisp acidity. Structured and chalky.

Food Pairing: Our Baroli pair well with roasts, braised meats, fillets, pasta with complex sauces and medium-aged cheeses.

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - James Suckling:
"This exhibits violets and tar, as well as underbrush and a distant bitter-chocolate note. The palate is angular and incisive, well-constructed with a harmonious interplay between the focused acidity, fine grained tannins and delineated, fleshy fruit. Precise. Best ever from here. Better in 2028." (Jan 2025)

94 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A sleek, elegant red, silky in texture and linear in profile. Rose, macerated cherry, strawberry, mineral and spice flavors abound, while a line of energetic tannins shows up on the long finish. This wine's purity and structure show the potential of the vintage. Best from 2028 through 2047." - Bruce Sanderson (Apr 2025)

93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"One of the overachievers of the vintage for a regional Barolo and a strong contender for top of the year lists, the 2021 Barolo Ludo pours a reflective brick red color and is attractive on the nose with notes of cinnamon sticks, fresh cherries, mossy earth, and anise. The palate offers a good balance of richness in the structure of its medium-bodied frame, with ripe tannins, lovely clarity of fruit, and refreshing ripe acidity. A gorgeous entry-level Barolo, it's stunning now and has the potential to age with ease over the next 12-15 years." - Audrey Frick (May 2025)

93 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The Poderi Luigi Einaudi 2021 Barolo Ludo is light and delicate in appearance with a dark ruby shine. The bouquet has a lot going on with sweet cherry, cola, blue flower and spicy rosemary essence that comes through with more clarity the longer this wine stays in the glass. It offers young tannins that could surely benefit from more years of bottle age." - Monica Larner (Jan 2025)

92 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"From the Latin 'ludus' which means playful, Ludo assembles young vine plots in Bussia, Terlo, Monvigliero and Cannubi. Aged in a mix of large cask and tonneaux, it proposes a brambly nose that recalls cranberry bush, wild currants, rooibos and baking spice. Midweight and streamlined but still textured, this is built around succulent wild red fruit. Elegant tannins are light and crisp, matched by enjoyably tart, brisk acidity. The finish is long, with a subtle mushroom accent. Makes you thirsty for more." - Michaela Morris (Jan 2025)

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Think of this as Einaudi's greatest hits album. Young vineyards across Barolo come together to create something that just works. Fresh fruits and sweet spices play through a gorgeously textured palate, showing exactly why blending across sites can create such beautiful harmony. A wine that makes you smile while it teaches you something. A great entry point for those wanting to learn Barolo or a place that feels like home for the initiated." - Jeff Porter (Feb 2026)

90 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2021 Barolo Ludo is a very pretty entry-level offering designed for near-term drinking. Short time on the skins yielded a Barolo that emphasizes vibrant fruit, floral top notes and silky tannins. Sweet dried cherry, tobacco, cedar and crushed flowers linger. This is very nicely done." - Antonio Galloni (Jan 2025)