Barolo can undoubtedly be one of the greatest wines of all. And among the most powerful. That is precisely why one should not be satisfied with mediocrity. Really weak Barolo is rare, but its high alcohol and massive tannins are only not exhausting if they are countered by the necessary fruit concentration, depth and complexity. And, ideally, finesse.
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If everything comes together, you have a work of art in front of you that you will not find again in the wine world. If too much is missing, Barolo loses its charm, its unique selling point. Then you can safely replace it with any other heavy wine. A great Barolo makes you forget its dimensions, a simple one really forces them on you. The former is worth looking for, it is worth almost any effort.