2017 Covalli Barolo DOCG 750 ml

Showing the tightrope balance of concentration and buoyancy that we love to find in a Barolo, the classically styled 2017 Covalli brings all the power and grace we expect from Piedmont’s signature wine, making it the perfect bottle for anyone who loves elegant, soulful reds. Capable of aging for a decade or more, it’s the ideal cellar staple for Barolo lovers who want to drink it seven nights a week.

The 2017 vintage produced wines that were “very true to site,” according to Vinous, and for this Covalli those sites included vines aged up to 40 years on some of Italy's most famous hillsides, including Monforte d’Alba and La Morra, where Barolo heavyweights craft some of their top bottlings. The resulting wine reeled in a 92-point score, landing it alongside 2017s from estates like Diego Conterno, Mauro Molino, and Fontanafredda.

Covalli makes traditional Barolo from first-rate Nebbiolo. In the cellar, they use massive Slavonian oak barrels that allow subtle spicy and savory flavors to develop without getting overpowered by the influence of wood. The grapes macerate just long enough to extract the fine-grained tannins that create a gently chewy texture—a Barolo telltale—after a couple of years in bottle. 

Barolo commands—and deserves—its high prices because of the extensive time that goes into it. To put Barolo on the label, the wine must go through an extensive aging regimen: at least 18 months in oak and 20 months in bottle.  

We know firsthand the endless joys Barolo has to offer, and we think that everyone should experience them as well, whether you’ve never tried them or you’re a longtime Piedmont fanatic.