2017 Giovanni Sordo Perno Barolo Piedmont is sold out.

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Spectator: “Complex and harmonious…plenty of ripe fruit”

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  • 94 pts Wine Spectator
    94 pts WS
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2017 Giovanni Sordo Perno Barolo Piedmont 750 ml

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  • Curated by unrivaled experts
  • Choose your delivery date
  • Temperature controlled shipping options
  • Get credited back if a wine fails to impress

Ripe, Harmonious, and Beautifully Perfumed

The famous Perno vineyard in Monforte d’Alba produces some of the most structured, muscular, dark-toned wines in all of Barolo. Elevated and hilly, it’s a “celebrated vineyard site” that “brings on the power,” according to Wine Advocate.

That’s only part of the story though. For us, it’s the aromatics of Perno—they’re simply some of the most alluring in all of Barolo. They weave a gorgeous spectrum of scents: cherries, cranberries, rose petals, warming spices, anise, and red plums. It makes for a wine as much a joy to smell as it is to taste.

Only six producers have access to grapes off this steeply sloping vineyard. Among them are some of the biggest names in Barolo, but for our money, the best buy off the renowned site is THIS one, by Giovanni Sordo.

In 2017, Wine Spectator awarded the Sordo Perno 94 points, calling it “complex and harmonious.” It’s the vintage’s best value on a 94-point Barolo, and the competition wasn’t even close.

Perno wraps around a hill that slopes downward on all sides, guaranteeing broad exposure to sunlight and helping foster the kind of rich, ripe tannins that form the foundation of this Barolo. Vines have to work hard to anchor into this tough land, making for Nebbiolo bushes that are deeply rooted and resilient.  

The 2017 vintage was hot and dry, and this bottling shows the deft touch that third-generation winemaker Giorgio Sordo has with warmer seasons like this one.  

Barolo expert Alessandro Masnaghetti called Giovanni Sordo’s version of Perno a “reference tasting,” meaning it’s simply a benchmark for this grand vineyard. We couldn’t agree more.