2019 Bruna Grimaldi Camilla Barolo Piedmont 750 ml

When we first visited the Grimaldi estate, we sampled the Camilla beneath the shadow of the 13th-century Grinzane Cavour castle. It was an honor to sit and taste the wines with Bruna Grimaldi herself and her husband and two children—the next generation who will steward these hillside vineyards.

Over the next 45 minutes, we sat in amazement as the Camilla unfolded before us. Back in the States, we marveled at how just one sip can transport you to the hills of Piedmont. Aromas of dried red cherry skin, warm red currants, and lightly smoked cranberry predominate,  followed by a crushed rose petal note, laced with licorice and cinnamon stick.  

The palate is voluminous and full, and with an hour plus of being opened, the wine gains so much more detail and clarity. The finish goes on for miles, extending your stay in Barolo heaven. 

Grimaldi and her husband Franco Fiorino produce Camilla from several distinct vineyards—including their famed Badarina and Bricco Ambrogio sites—in three locations: the vineyards in Serralunga that Bruna inherited from her mother, the vineyard in Roddi that she and Franco purchased, and the family’s original property in Grinzane Cavour. 

Made in a classic fashion, with aging in large oak barrels and a regimen that eschews chemicals and machines, Grimaldi wines pay a delicious homage to Barolo’s time-honored winemaking traditions. It’s a wine we stock our cellars with every vintage because of how irresistibly it pairs with everything, from pasta with truffles to steaks off the grill.