Mention “Monvigliero” around any Barolo nut and there is a better than good chance you might witness the following behavior: waxing poetic in hushed tones, sighing, swooning…possibly fainting. Monvigliero truly is the zeitgeist. For over 40 years, Comm. G.B. Burlotto (and Fratelli Alessandria before them), have quietly been making great single-vineyard Monvigliero and it was only in the last 10-15 years that the world started to catch on to the magic that was happening in Verduno. In the last handful of years alone, there have been a flurry of producers with holdings in Monvigliero that have released their own single-vineyard expression. However, what many may not realize is that Enrico Scavino and his daughters have been producing a “Monvigliero” since 2007, making them one of the first half dozen to do so. I’m only suggesting that the Scavino’s knew there was something special there well before the hype train came to the station.
Popped and poured; enjoyed with dinner and over the course of a couple hours. The 2020 “Monvigliero” pours a deep garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. The nose is gorgeous; seemingly darker fruited with blackberry, pomegranate, black cherry lozenges, roses and spice box. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin (though friendly) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and lithe. An elegant wine and downright delicious. I think Paolo Scavino did a fabulous job of capturing the synergy of what Mother Nature gave in the 2020 vintage and the source of their fruit in the heart of the Monvigliero MGA. These are very early days for this wine but it’s already a joy to drink now but I expect this will continue a lovely evolution through 2038, easy. — 2 months ago
Intenso e profumatissimo, cambia ad ogni sorso, ben bilanciato — 2 years ago
Medium Ruby with aromas of red fruits, floral and new leather notes, fruit sources from several vineyard sites. On the palate flavors of cherry and plum fruits with tobacco and pepper spice. Firm chewy tannins, savory on a medium+ finish ending with notes of oak, mineral and earthy character. Drinking well now, good value. — a month ago
Elegant, Burgundian nose. Nice mouthfeel and finish. Drinking perfectly now. — 6 months ago
Very enjoyable. Don't recall the provenance but would buy again. — a year ago
Wine is deep garnet. Smells like violet, decomposed bramble and slate. Immense aroma. Overwhelming. On the palate violet, cherry and strawberry. Elegant hermes leather and a touch of wet slate. Quite delicious. It wants to be a refined Sangiovese but it's more than that. Quite nice. — 3 years ago
Medium ruby color.
Aromas of black cherry, floral.
Dry. Flavors of black cherry, rose, peppercorn, tar, spice. Rich, chewy tannins. Great acidity!
Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 4/5
Balance: 5/5
Finish: 4/5 — 2 months ago
The Scavino family’s holdings in the Rocche dell’Annuziata MGA have always been quite special and at Paolo Scavino, it’s bottled as a Riserva. This 2016 was popped and poured and enjoyed over a several hour period. It pours a deep ruby with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of dark cherry, red roses, some tar, dried herbs, gentle warm spices and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. There’s wonderful concentration and the finish is grippy, long and delicious. As far as Riserva’s go, this is a winner. And, because this is a 2016, you can drink now (with some patience) if you wanna enjoy in its relative youth but this will undoubtedly last for decades.
Over the last 70+ years, Enrico Scavino was a force behind the family’s expansion in the Barolo region. And while he was never been shy about innovation (Enrico was one of the “Barolo Boys” after all), he was a bit more judicious with his use of new French oak; careful to ensure each vineyard’s story was being told. Increasingly, there has been an even greater lean towards a more traditional touch with less time spent in barrique (very little of it new) and more time spent in botti. And while the quality has never really been an argument, the results are evident in the glass and I’ve been impressed with the wine of the last several years. But I digress, the real news is that Enrico passed away in late February which means Piemonte has lost yet another legend.
— 8 months ago
Ted
Light in body. Refreshing at the beach. Unripe pear — 11 days ago