Barolo DOCG Lazzarito 2021

Wine description for Barolo DOCG Lazzarito 2021 by Vietti

Colour & appearance

Dark cherry to garnet red with clear transparency – deep yet luminous, as befits a young Nebbiolo.

Nose

Almost unapproachable in its youth, as one expects from Serralunga: less fruit, but rather stems, undergrowth, earth and iron-rich rock. Alongside hints of charcoal, violet blossoms and a touch of bluish berry fruit – a bouquet that demands patience and holds great promise.

Palate

The most tightly wound of the Vietti crus: a clear, driving acidity carries the wine, accompanied by impressive firmness and a gentle warmth in the fruit. Densely woven, with firm tannins, a saline-mineral note and abundant energy. The ripeness extends into depth rather than breadth.

Finish

Magnificent length, angular and energetic – a finale that evokes stone and iron more than fruit.

Terroir & origin

The Lazzarito vineyard site in Serralunga d’Alba: an amphitheatre-shaped vineyard facing south-west at an altitude of 260 to 390 metres. Calcareous-clay soils, vines averaging 42 years of age. Serralunga is regarded as the commune producing the most structured and longest-lived Barolo – and this wine is a textbook example.

Grape variety & vinification

Pure Nebbiolo. Three to four days of cold maceration, 20–25 % whole berries, around three weeks of skin contact in stainless steel with a submerged cap only. Subsequently aged for 24 months in large wooden casks – a classic signature, with no barrique perfume.

Food recommendations

Saddle of venison with juniper jus, braised ox cheek, pappardelle with wild game ragù or matured Castelmagno. If drinking now, decant generously; better still: allow five to ten years of cellaring.

Special features

Vietti practically invented single-vineyard vinification in Barolo in 1961 – and Lazzarito stands firmly in this pioneering tradition. In the current vintage, it presents itself as the most austere wine in the portfolio: more structure than charm, more promise than immediate gratification. A Barolo for those who appreciate wines that take their time.