2012 Fratelli Giacosa Barolo Bussia Piedmont Italy 750 ml

Rare Cru Bussia Barolo Under $40

Fratelli Giacosa has been making Barolo in the Langhe for over a century. Five generations of Giacosas have devoted their lives to the undulating hillsides of Piedmont, where Alpine breezes, chalky soils, and elevation combine to create a Mecca for Nebbiolo. Prized for their longevity, elegance, and power, Barolo is the undisputed king of Piedmont, and in today’s 2012 Barolo Bussia the Giacosa clan captured an excellent vintage in bottle, yielding an effusive, aromatic, red-fruited stunner that lives up to the family name.

Wine Spectator wrote, “This aromatic version evokes cherry, rose, leather, tobacco, and tar, backed by serious tannins.” Spectator suggested that those tannins will evolve in the bottle well into the 2030s when another generation of Giacosas will be at the helm. The small batch wines of this pedigreed estate range from $50-$120—that includes this 2012 Barolo Bussia, which was released for $60. At 50% off today, it’s a bona fide steal. Rarely will you find Cru Bussia fruit—one of the most sought-after and acclaimed districts in Barolo—for under-$30 on cases.

The chalky soils in Bussia are an enviable mixture of clay and calcareous elements, shot through with streaks of magnesium. The Giacosa’s 22-acre Cascina Canavere vineyard, planted at over 1,200 feet above sea level, enjoys cool temperatures and ample sunlight. In the glass, this terroir yields complex, deeply fruited wines, buoyed by mouthwatering, vibrant acidity. The 2012 Bussia generously bestows all of these gifts, while also demonstrating the characteristic elegance and focus of the best wines of the vintage.

Hailed as “a rockstar vintage” by James Suckling, 2012 Barolos are drinking beautifully right now. Wine Enthusiast declared there’s “more consistent quality across the denomination than even the highly acclaimed 2010s; and Antonio Galloni wrote in his 2012 vintage report, “2012 is a year to be selective, but to go deep on favorite producers and wines. Those bottles will give pleasure for many years and decades to come.” The 2012 Giacosa Barolo is indeed a wine to “go deep” on. With its pure, fruit forward nature and sturdy tannic backbone, it can be enjoyed now and over the next two decades. Pedigreed, age-worthy Barolos like this, especially from Bussia—at $29.99—makes stocking up an easy choice.