2012 Attilio Ghisolfi Barolo Bussia 750 ml

A Barolo Coup

In 2012, the cream of Monforte d’Alba — Grasso, Conterno, and Elio Altare — came through with masterful, wildly complex, Burgundian-styled Nebbiolos of extraordinary charm and finesse. The 2012 Attilio Ghisolfi Barolo drawn from the Bussia vineyard, one of the most prized sites in Piedmont, belongs in that company, and in your cellar and on your table. Wine Spectator scored it at 94 points. We consider it one of the most Burgundian-styled Nebbiolos we’ve tasted.

Antonio Galloni has been covering Barolo for about 15 years. When his vintage reports are published on Vinous, we stop what we’re doing and dive in. Galloni’s 2012 “Grace Under Pressure” Barolo report praised the 2012s for their “bright acidities” and “forward fruit” qualities. Crucially, Galloni observed that the 2012s are “lower in alcohol than the 2011s, a combination that gives the wines considerable early appeal.” In other words, 2012 is a “Drink Now” vintage, with exceptional deals to be had.

Of course, the cream of Monforte d’Alba — Grasso, Conterno, and Elio Altare — came through with masterful efforts, wildly complex, Burgundian-styled Nebbiolos of extraordinary charm and finesse. We suspect if you’re reading this, you have some of those in your cellar already.

You may not yet have Attilio Ghisolfi’s absolutely stunning 2012 Barolo, though, and here’s why you should. Drawn from the famed Bussia vineyard, Ghisolfi’s “Bussia” takes finesse to another level, and is one of the reasons why so many Gevrey-Chambertin collectors have adopted Piedmont as their own. If the best 2012s are some of the juiciest, most pliant, and plush Barolos to date, they also take a page out of a seductive Burgundian script.

From the first sip of the 2012 Ghisolfi Barolo Bussia, there’s enough complexity to warrant your attention, but those patient enough to enjoy over the next 5-7 years will be rewarded with much more.