2015 Le Ginestre Sottocastello di Novello Barolo Piedmont Italy 750 ml

2015 remains one of the Barolo vintages of our lifetime, full of wines that James Suckling described as “thrilling to taste.” Even within the breathtaking quality of the year, though, Le Ginestre’s Sottocastello di Novello stands out for its quality and approachable price—a 95-point single-vineyard powerhouse that we’re able to offer our members for a song.

It’s remarkable to find a single-vineyard bottling at this price, the kind that is rare among bottles blended from across Barolo, and all but unheard of from a vineyard as perfect as Sottocastello, which Antonio Galloni of Vinous classifies as “Outstanding” for its wines of “notable mid-palate depth and roundness.”

James Suckling sang Le Ginestre’s praises in his 95-point review, impressed by how the wine “grabs your attention immediately” with “loads of fruit” to go along with a “bold and eye-catching” structure and a “long and flamboyant finish.” Normally, we’d expect to pay $75+ for a single-vineyard bottling of this pedigree, and at this price, Le Ginestre deserves to be in the cellar of every Italian wine lover.

It’s a prime example of why ‘15 was such an epic Barolo vintage—one Suckling called “a great year, clearly the best since 2010, perhaps better.” 2015’s unique combination of “instant appeal as well as more in-depth attraction” led him to call the year “a vintage to really celebrate." 

After a few hours in the decanter, this bottling really blossoms into life, with a beautiful aroma that’s classic Barolo—and decidedly compelling. Scents of sun-ripe raspberries, dried pie cherries, and aniseed mix with hints of cedar, violets, and truffle to create a perfume that we’re happy to just sit and smell. When you take your first sip, those flavors are echoed again, with a power and energy carrying the mix of warm, ripe fruit and herbs into a finish that lasts for minutes, demanding contemplation and perhaps a plate of tajarin al ragù.

The Sottocastello vineyard is one of the crown jewels of the village of Novello, and it’s hard to think of a more perfect place to grow grapes. Its ideal southeastern exposure ensures ample sunlight, which, in combination with the well-drained limestone-heavy soils, produces rich fruit and explosive aromatics, while retaining excellent structure and tannin elegance.

Le Ginestre farms this magical site meticulously before treating the grapes with kid gloves in the winery. A gentle, submerged-cap fermentation helps to manage Barolo’s grippy tannins, and aging in some deftly chosen French oak rounds out the wine’s texture. The result is a stunning bottle of Barolo that shows off why the vineyard is so prized.