Seghesio Castelletto Barolo DOCG 2018

If ever there was a Barolo to dispel the myth that “the king of wines” is despotic and unapproachable in its youth or it is somehow undrinkable before its 10th birthday, the 2018 Seghesio Castelletto Barolo is just such a wine. Sporting a deep garnet color and endowed with an elegant and entrancing bouquet from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, the stylish 2018 Seghesio Castelletto Barolo offers up a complex floral aroma: delicate rose and violet scents mingled with a touch of exotic spice and forest woodlands captivate the nose. The wine’s heavenly scents carry through to the palate, providing plenty of mid palate appeal and nuanced flavors to savor, all of which culminate in a long, lovely finish. Elegant, but by no means lean, the 2018 Seghesio Barolo possesses a healthy dose of velvety, well-integrated tannins undergirding its noble stature and assuring a decade of exceptional drinking pleasure. As is the case with all Barolo wines, the 2018 Seghesio Castelletto Barolo begs for aeration. Consequently, whenever possible, we suggest an hour or two in a decanter before serving at cellar or cool room temperature (56°-60° F). Anticipated maturity: 2024-2030. Salute!

The complex aromas and flavors that define the 2018 Seghesio Castelletto Barolo plead for accompaniments of equal stature. One does not typically sit around drinking Barolo with abandon, yet, one can happily savor Seghesio’s 2018 Castelletto Barolo with nary a morsel, as many of our tasting panel members have done without apology. However, when consumed at table with traditional Piedmontese cooking with its myriad of savory sauces, one comes to fully appreciate the royal nature of this Barolo. Risottos, made with authentic Arborio rice, provide many of our favorite accompaniments to Seghesio’s 2018 Castelletto Barolo. A risotto made with a whole chicken, mushrooms, a shaving or two of white truffle, and a dash of a splendid 18-year-old Modena balsamic vinegar makes an ideal complement. A simple cheese risotto won’t disappoint, either. In addition, less traditional foods pair equally well with this wine. Roast loin of pork, stuffed with a bread, onion, and herb farce provides a savory treat. Marinated pork tenderloins offer tasty uncomplicated pairings, too. Moreover, Barolo offers one of the finest accompaniments to hard cheeses, especially authentic Italian Parmesan or Provolone, as they offer a splendid way to finish a glass of Seghesio’s 2018 Castelletto Barolo. Buon Appetito!

Riccardo Seghesio’s Barolo emanates from a single vineyard in the Monforte zone of Barolo. By carefully cultivating his family’s south facing vineyards organically, Seghesio produces small amounts of two prized Baroli, wines renowned for their elegance and harmony. Since the passing of his brother Aldo, Riccardo is assisted by his nephews Marco and Sandro, both trained agricultural technicians in the vineyards and cellar, and by his niece Michela.

Seghesio’s style continues to reflect the ultimate in elegance and finesse. The Seghesio winery fashions two exceptional Barolo wines, Barolo Castelletto (this month’s feature) and, in some vintages, a single vineyard offering designated La Villa. Both wines emanate from the La Villa vineyard, and they share similar attributes, including exceptional color, an entrancing bouquet, superb texture, and a long elegant finish.

In addition to producing superlative Barolo, Seghesio consistently turns out excellent Dolcetto d’Alba, Barbera d’Alba, and Nebbiolo from slopes that lie down hill from La Villa. Low yield organic viticulture, excellent terroir, and the superb winemaking skills practiced at Seghesio have placed this gem of a property in the top echelon of Barolo producers.

Barolo has affectionately and appropriately been referred to as the “king of wines, and the wine of kings.” In a fine vintage and in the hands of a skilled winemaker, Barolo is unquestionably a noble wine, richly deserving of the many accolades that have been bestowed upon it.

Born on the Langhe Hills of Italy’s Piedmont, on steep craggy Alpine foothills as they tumble out of nearby Switzerland and France, Barolo is the most masculine of Piedmont’s three great Nebbiolo wines and the focal point in the region’s viticultural tiara. Although Gattinara, typically the lightest and most feminine of Piedmont’s great reds, and Barbaresco, sometimes referred to as a baby Barolo for its propensity for lightness and ease of drinkability in its youth compared to its more stalwart neighbor, all share the same noble Nebbiolo vine as Barolo, it is Barolo that possesses the pedigree and rules the roost. Barolo’s lineage dates back to the Middle Ages and by the mid 18th century its wine had evolved into its present form in the vicinity of Alba, the white truffle capital of the world.

Today, the limited production of Barolo generates from the huddled hills of two valleys, Serralunga and Barolo, and their five principal communities, all of which lie to the southwest of the city of Alba and are reputed to impart distinctive characteristics and traits to their respective progeny. The townships of Serralunga, Castiglione Falletto, and Monforte are situated in the Serralunga Valley and are reputed to produce the region’s more masculine and longer lived Baroli. Meanwhile, Barolo and La Morra, from which the more “delicate” wines of the zone are said to flow, are part of the Barolo Valley. However, there are many exceptions and innumerable variations in Barolo on the same theme, and this does not even take into account the decades old debate in Barolo over the relative merits of the modern and traditional styles of Barolo, which have as much to do with individual winemaking techniques as they do the amount and type of barrel aging the wines receive. In the end, there is great Barolo fashioned in all five of the major townships, in both modern and traditional styles and every way in between. Salute!