Jay Kline

9.2

As someone who has been described as an Italophile, I’m particularly enamored with the wines of Piemonte. You’ve probably all heard the saying, “the more you learn, the less you seem to know”. Yeah, I don’t know that it really makes sense. Yet, it seems to apply more and more these days. This wonderful bottle from Giovanni Rosso was an entire lesson of its own for me.

Okay, so I’ve been enjoying the Barolo’s from Giovanni Rosso for almost a decade now and it was not until this bottle that I realized this is not their “classico” but instead, a blend of their holdings exclusively throughout Serralunga d’Alba. A sort of “super classico” (I just made that up) I guess one could say. Since the mid-1990’s, they have been best known for their Serralunga parcels in Cerretta (Bricco). Later, in 2004, they were the first to release a single-vineyard bottling of the Serra MGA (not to be confused with the La Serra MGA in La Morra 🙄). More recently, they have picked up parcels in other Serralunga MGA’s including Costabella, Sorano, Lirano, Damiano, as well as the up and coming Meriame and their most famous of all, Vignarionda (the only other MGA from which they do a single-vineyard besides the aforementioned Serra and Cerretta). I know…it’s a lot to absorb. Let’s just get to the notes.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2019 “Del Comune Di Serralunga d’Alba” pours a pale garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful, heady notes of red (mostly) and black fruit: fresh raspberries, pomegranate, blood orange, roses, talcum powder, freshly tarred roof and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is a powerful expression of the 2019 vintage that needs some time to settle down. The fruit profile is quite big but the classic Serralunga structure is there in the background. You can drink now if you’re a hedonist (guilty) but I suspect a bigger reward to come from 2029-2040+. — 23 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Ruby with a bouquet of dark fruit, spices, leather and licorice. On the palate flavors of cherry and strawberry with notes of pepper, smoky tobacco, herbs and cacao. Long finish, nice balance with fine soft tannins ending with smoky notes, cacao and earthy sweet notes. Just starting to drink now, but a few more years will benefit. — 5 months ago

Anthony Kluska

9.0

Minerality and black berry preserve — 20 days ago

Erik Longabardi

9.2

The Bojo of Lombardy — a month ago

Jason Keefer

9.1

Man, this is a powerhouse. Can’t believe it had 14 year so far age because it still packs a punch, and is very dense and tannic. Leather, cigar box, cherry compote. Very interesting that they don’t harvest til mid-November, probably explains the concentration! — 2 months ago

with Natasha

Carsten Rudolph

8.9

A big surprise - better than expected with a couple of hours air — 6 months ago

Brent Clayton

9.0

Great with some Flannery Hangars on the grill! A bit alcoholic but nice red fruits and great with the steak. — a month ago

Anthony Kluska

9.0

Blackberry jam up front with a tiny bit of Oak and minerality — a month ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.5

A bit fuller and denser than the 2018... it should exceed it in a few years  — 3 months ago

K L

9.0

Kurt wine. Good would get again — 5 months ago

with Matt