After a long but rather dry winter, spring around Alba finally brought the longed-for rain that replenished the water reservoirs of the soils. The unsettled, often rainy weather continued into May with moderate temperatures, delaying vegetation by about two weeks compared to the hot and dry previous years. A warm June finally provided an enormous growth spurt, also thanks to the favourable water supply. The summer was largely mild, with two heat waves at the end of June and the end of July, which were always followed by periods of moderate temperatures and sporadic precipitation. A moment of shock was provided by a hailstorm at the beginning of September, which devastated some vineyards in the hills around Alba, but largely spared the Barolo areas.
The main harvest began in mid-October. Those who had the crop protection under control and brought in their grapes before the persistent rainy period at the end of October could enjoy perfectly ripened material with ideal acid and phenolic values.
The best 2019 Barolos highlight the enormous potential of the vintage, which has what it takes to go down in history as a great classic. The wines are brazen and hedonistic at the same time, possessing abundant power and structure, but also beguiling juiciness and a freshness rarely experienced before. And one must have experienced it oneself!
We have currently tasted around 200 Barolos, three quarters of which are from the 2019 vintage. So far, only some of the producers have accepted our invitation, which is why some top producers in particular are missing from our list. Wines presented later will be added later. We present the best results here. Links to all wines can be found under the best lists.