2015 Covalli Barolo DOCG 750 ml

The classically styled 2015 Covalli Barolo brings all the power and grace we expect from "The King of Wines." What we didn’t expect was to score it at the astonishingly affordable price of $25.

38% off of Barolo is simply unbelievable—especially when it comes with endorsements from the critics too. Burgundy and Etna lovers, this is your cue to drink Barolo like a local, at a price that even the Piedmontese would jump at!

We nearly choked on our tajarin pasta when we discovered this gorgeous Nebbiolo, then hammered home the incredible deal. But that's why we spend so much time tracing the back roads in the odd hours: Sometimes the fog clears and you're right where you need to be, doing exactly what you came to do. In this case, in a warehouse south of Alba, lopping 38% off the price. We’ve eaten plates of pasta that cost more than that.

The grapes in the Covalli Barolo hail from some of Italy's most famous hillsides, including southern and southwestern exposures in Monforte d’Alba and La Morra, sharing real estate with Barolo's top wines. While not thought of as a blue chip, Covalli is a methodically crafted and finely polished entry point to the category—Barolo in the traditionalist style—made from first-rate fruit. The color is a perfect garnet with glints of tangerine and rust. The nose pops with rose petals and walnuts and draws you in toward a candied cherry core.

The winery uses massive old Slavonian oak barrels that allow subtle earthy flavors like dried porcini and bone broth to develop in the wine without getting overpowered by the influence of newly toasted wood. And they let the grapes macerate long enough to extract those fine-grained skin tannins that create a gently chewy texture (a Barolo telltale) after a couple years in the bottle. The result is a wine of structure, finesse, and beauty that is ready to drink right now.

We know Burgundy freaks who can't see over the Côte d'Or and Sicily fanatics who look to Mt. Etna as if toward Bacchus himself. That's all fine and well. But we're convinced these folks will sink into a glass of Covalli Barolo with as much pleasure as any entry-level Beaune. 

Barolo and Burgundy actually have a lot in common, including similar climates and elevations, and Nebbiolo has a lot in common with Pinot Noir. Both thin-skinned varieties, they thrive in warm days and cool nights, allowing for a remarkable balance between ripeness and acidity that make them some of the most age-worthy wines in the world. Nebbiolo wines are unmistakably light in the glass, like Pinot, and can be just as intricately structured. But while power is key, when molded with the intention to be drunk early and often, there's a light that shines through in wines like Covalli. This is truly a hidden gem.

It's a running joke at Wine Access: How can we turn more people on to the miracle of Barolo? Answer: Sell it for half the price! That's why we're so thrilled to make good on that punchline, landing one of Italy's noblest wines for such a modest sum. Because just as we know first-hand the endless joys Barolo has to offer, we also know it can sometimes feel just out of reach for a lot of would-be enthusiasts. 

If you enjoy bright, aromatic, dynamic, highly structured wines, we want you to be drinking more Barolo. If you like reds with soul, we want you to be drinking more Barolo. If you have read this far, you should definitely be drinking more Barolo. 

At $25 per bottle, Covalli is a perfect place to start. You'll be licking your lips all the way to the bank.