Valter Fissore’s 2016 Barbaresco fires on all cylinders, weaving together flavors of perfectly ripe plum, black cherry and tarragon. It feels bold, taut and chiseled, with polished tannins, carrying the wine to a harmonious, expressive finish.

Walter Fissore’s focus on Novello’s Ravera cru makes a powerful case for specialization. He produces four Barolos, all from Ravera, all from the wines that surround his farmhouse, and his wines seem to get better with each vintage, regardless of conditions. Vigna Elena is a singular wine, the only Barolo made entirely from Nebbiolo rosé, once thought to be a Nebbiolo clone but now shown to be a separate yet closely related variety...

Valter Fissore’s Ravera is brilliant in the warm 2015 vintage, striking a balance between fleshy cherry fruit, fresh florals and chiseled tannins. The wine feels generous yet precise, the flavors and aromas amplifies by the lively acidity that draws them out in a long, vertical finish.

This is tightly structured and dense, with burly tannins wrapped around cherry, plum, licorice, tar and menthol flavors. It's difficult to see where this is going today, but the finish is long and will need considerable time to hit its stride. Best from 2023 through 2042.

The silky texture and graceful profile provide a setting for strawberry, cherry, rose, iron and tobacco flavors in this red. No pushover, this features a solid structure that emerges on the long, earth-, leather-, mineral- and tobacco-tinged aftertaste. Once fully integrated, this should be a beauty. Best from 2022 through 2042.

A supple texture and harmony are the hallmarks of this alluring red, setting you up for pure flavors of cherry, raspberry, licorice, mint and tobacco. A solid backbone of tannins provides support. This should develop nicely over the medium term. Best from 2021 through 2033.

Beautifully pure and seamless Barolo with superb balance. Bright strawberry and floral aromas and attractive sweet spices, leading to a palate with assertive, juicy tannins that carry rich, fresh red-plum and cherry flavor. Power with elegance.

New leather, balsamic herb, rose, truffle and woodland berry aromas take shape in the glass along with a whiff of charcuterie. The focused, savory palate has a great depth of flavor, doling out raspberry compote, cinnamon, crushed mint and a hint of cocoa alongside a backbone of firm tannins and fresh acidity. It still needs time to fully develop.

Soaring aromatics make a strong opening statement in the 2015 Barolo Ravera. Bright, precise and finely sculpted, the Ravera captures all the best the 2015 vintage has to offer. Kirsch, sweet mint, hard candy and expressive floral notes are given an extra kick of inner sweetness from the natural energy of Ravera. There is so much to look forward to as the 2015 develops in bottle. This is a stellar showing

The 2015 Barolo Ravera shows a deep concentration and dark fruit intensity. This warm-vintage Barolo opens with a ripe and soft bouquet that brings out some nice cherry notes with creamy black fruit at the back. The finish is soft and luscious. There is so much fruity succulence here that the wine should stand up to a gamey dish of liver pâté or pasta with wild boar.

This has some good depth for 2014 with darker cherries delivering a stronger impression. The aromas of fresh fruit are lightly spiced and lead to a palate that has a firm and slightly chewy edge. Drink or hold.

Fragrant blue flower, tilled earth, new leather, baking spice and wild berry aromas form a lovely fragrance. On the polished, full-bodied palate, smooth tannins and bright acidity elegantly support juicy raspberry, strawberry compote, clove and licorice.

The 2014 Barolo Bricco Pernice is vivid, precise and flat-out stunning. Like the best wines of the year, the Bricco Pernice is going to need a bit of time to be at its very best. I find the wine's inner perfume and sweetness to be utterly beguiling. At the same time, the Bricco Pernice remains taut, classically austere and in need of cellaring.

The 2014 Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice is full and soft with great fruit density. This is a nicely balanced wine that shows more intensity than I might have expected from this cool vintage that generally produced thinner wines in comparison. There is sweet, supple spice on the close. This elegant Barolo would go nicely with a beef and pork shank cassoulet. The wine has the fiber to age beautifully, but it will also show nicely in the medium-term, for those looking for a more accessible Barolo.

Entrancingly deep, red and blue-rose aromas here with an ethereal, dried-leaf and herb edge and pristine red cherries. The palate has very impressive, fine and tight tannins and a fresh, pure core of red-cherry and plum flavor. Impeccably focused finish. Try from 2023.

Aromas of rose, red berry and wild herbs are front and center on this fresh, refined red. On the bright palate, taut, polished tannins and good acidity accompany juicy raspberry, white pepper and star anise. Drink 2020–2025.

The 2015 Barolo Cascina Nuova is a very pretty entry-level offering from Elvio Cogno. Bright red berry and lifted floral notes pair nicely with the wine's gracious, mid-weight feel. Silky tannins match the wine's finely sculpted, saline-infused personality. The Cascina Nuova is a terrific example of the bright, taut Barolos made here in 2015. I would prefer to drink this gracious, lithe Barolo over the next decade or so.

The 2015 Barolo Cascina Nuova is a dark and concentrated expression that offers succulence and richness with a full load of ripe summer plum and blackberry. There is softness here with black and purple fruit, natural rubber and savory spice. Pair this wine with a hearty beef en croute and roasted vegetables.

Named for the cru in the village of Neive where the grapes are grown on 30-year-old vines, this 100% Nebbiolo di Barbaresco fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeast before it was aged for 15 months in Slavonian oak barrels and aged for six months in bottle. Aromas of stewed tomato, tobacco, and earth lead to flavors of cinnamon, cherry, orange rind, and salted blueberry. It's youthful but so food-friendly. 

Perfumed and structured, this wine opens with alluring scents of rose, tobacco, mint, underbrush and woodland berry. The vibrant, focused palate offers intriguing tension and intensity while at the same time showing finesse, delivering red cherry, raspberry, licorice and baking spice tones framed by firm tannins. Drink 2023–2043.