Vietti 2014 Barolo Ravera

The Wine

As is usual for Vietti's wines from Ravera, this is another wine with their usual balance of complexity supported by good structure. It is a marker for wines of the Ravera cru in a cooler vintage.

To being, the wine announces its depth and age-worthy nature with a deep garnet hue. Aromas evolve slowly and continue to do so the longer it is in the glass, making it a wine for sipping and savoring as it grows. Early aromas include subtle hints of yeast followed by layers of cherry liqueur, dark raspberry, and rose petals. As it continues to open, more nuances emerge, including bitter chocolate, warm leather, licorice, balsamic herbs (Basil, Thyme, Rosemary, Dill, Tarragon...), crushed minerals, and a touch of menthol. 

On the palate, the wine is powerful and austere, with a firm backbone of tannins and vibrant acidity that will continue to support the wine as it ages further. Flavors of dark plum, cherry and anise are supported by a dense, refined tannic structure. As the wine opens further look for emerging notes of sage, tobacco, and briny herbs. The finish is long and persistent, with a velvety texture that suggests the wine will evolve beautifully. The wine's optimal drinking window is 2022 through 2034. This is a cerebral Barolo that rewards patience, offering a compelling expression of terroir and vintage.

2014 Vintage: 3 out of 5 stars, solid but challenging vintage, though top producers excelled.

The Winery

The Vietti winery, is based in the small medieval village of Castiglione Falletto in the heart of Piedmont’s famous “Langhe” region. Here the Krause family carefully and patiently handcrafts lauded wines that are the result of a unique combination of sun, soil and the winemaker's craft.

Though the history dates back to the 1800's, the first Vietti-labeled wines were produced by third-generation Mario, who transformed the family’s vineyards into an estate winery. In 1952, Luciana Vietti married winemaker and art connoisseur Alfredo Currado, whose intuitions – from the production of one of the first Barolo crus (Rocche di Castiglione – 1965), through the single-varietal vinification of Arneis (1967) to the invention of Artist Labels (1974) – made him both symbol and architect of some of the most significant revolutions of the time.

In 1970 the Viettis began working with artists on an ongoing, original artwork label program, featuring Pier Paolo Pasolini and Janet Fish, which received an exhibition at New York’s MOMA in 1996. In 1990 Alfredo and Luciana’s son Luca joined the family business as winemaker after working at California's Simi Winery, Opus One, Long Vineyards and Bordeaux's Mouton-Rothschild. 

His innovative winemaking utilizes a unique combination of the modern and traditional. Luca's focus on terroir is reflected in his careful cultivation and organic farming of more than 25 single vineyards. The estate has gradually grown over the course of time, and today the vineyards include some of the most highly-prized terroirs within the Barolo winegrowing area.

In 2016 the historic winery was acquired by Krause Holdings, enabling Luca and Elena, always at the head of Vietti brand, to add a number of prized crus to the estate’s holdings, and be able as a result to look to a future with new, stimulating prospects, all while maintaining the family approach for which the cellar has always been known.