Paolo Scavino

Bricco Ambrogio Barolo Nebbiolo 2020

9.2

“Bricco Ambrogio” stands alone as the only MGA in the tiny commune of Roddi and it’s almost completely under vine. In fact, the most prominent geological feature in Roddi is the hill of Bricco Ambrogio. While the Lodali family were the first to bottle a single expression, back in the late 1970’s, we largely have Paolo Scavino to thank for the growth of its reputation as a source of depth and balanced Barolo over the last 20+ years.

The 2020 “Bricco Ambrogio” pours a bright, luminous garnet color; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and predominately red fruited with notes of Morello cherry, cranberry, raspberry, rosebushes, tar, dried green herbs, cedar chest, spices, and gravely earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finishes long, grippy and spicy. A lovely Bricco Ambrogio with beautiful balance and sneaky power; arguably the benchmark for the MGA. Drinking well now in its youth (thank you 2020) but will surely gain complexity after 2030 and deliver smiles through 2040+. — 3 months ago

David, Lyle and 19 others liked this

Lodali

Vigneto Rocche dei 7 Fratelli Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2013

Erik Michielsen

9.1

Half bottle hiding on the menu = found and re-ordered. Beautiful orange/brown Barbaresco on the swirl, lovely floral nose and arm in arm buds with the roast duck — 3 years ago

with Debbie

LM and Ericsson liked this

Lodali

Alchimia Nebbiolo Petit Verdot 2012

Alberto Cdm

9.4

Molto buono!! — 4 years ago

Eredi Canonica Cav. Cesare

Langhe Nebbiolo Rosato 2017

William Wright

9.2

Summer in a glass, fantastic value for money — 7 years ago

Eredi Lodali

Rocche dei 7 Fratelli Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2019

Tom Casagrande

9.1

I wish Barbarescos would come with a back label telling you how tannic the wine is, kind of like Alsace now does the sweetness bar. Many of the less expensive ‘19s are drinking well now, but this one is quite tannic. The nose has nice cherry fruit and a leathery note. It’s got nice flavor intensity and ripeness on the palate, but then the mouth-puckering tannins hit. Needs a few more years. — 8 months ago

Ray, Bob and 11 others liked this

Pinotman /// Andreas

Who cares people who can not understand that tannins preserve the wines for 20 years (if the fruit is there)….but it is tough to convince our better half’s…..

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, I agree with @Pinotman /// Andreas that expecting most Barolo/Barbaresco to be even barely drinkable within 10 years (for me personally, 20 years) is largely a very tough ask — in fact, what makes Nebbiolo from those regions worth drinking is cellaring them for many years. NOT a personal criticism in any respect, but back in 1985 my brother and I spent 3 nights in Barbaresco drinking and buying super cheap (less than $10) Barbaresco/Barolo from the 1950s (1958, best vintage, 1953 and 1950) and drinking them, they were all incredible. That formed my opinion above, and is why I RARELY buy them any longer, I have a small stash from 1978 to 1985 (30 or so bottles?) that we occasionally open. I kinda believe that if you don’t buy these wines before you’re 40 (or buy older vintages at auction), why bother? Cheers!!!

Tom Casagrande

@Pinotman /// Andreas @Doug Powers - I can understand the more expensive crus having significant tannic structure for a slow unfurling, but it’s the tannic variability of the basic, entry-level bottlings that can be frustrating.