2016 Borgogno Cannubi Barolo 750 ml

Across the entire history of Barolo, there is no greater vineyard than Cannubi. The Cannubi name graced bottles coveted by Europe’s aristocracy before Barolo was ever put on a label—that’s how renowned the site was.

In the hands of Giacomo Borgogno, a legendary producer who first opened their doors in the 1700s, the grapes from Cannubi turn into one of the most profound expressions of Italian wine—especially in 2016, one of Barolo’s greatest-ever vintages.

The 2016 Borgogno Cannubi merited a 97-point score from James Suckling, who called it “Real Cannubi magic.” It’s old-school Barolo to its core, a swirling dance between haunting dried roses, achingly beautiful tart cherries, and a patina of truffle and earth. The structure is enormous—this is a wine to celebrate anniversaries and birthdays decades down the line.

It’s hard to imagine a year with more perfect conditions than 2016 in Barolo. With moderate temperatures and dry days, the start of the season crept slowly along until Mother Nature turned up the thermostat, starting slowly in July and running through August and September. Occasional showers broke up the summer heat and kept temperatures in balance. When all was said and done, Wine Advocate rated the vintage 97 points, making it one of the best in two decades.

Borgogno’s traditional vinification script ensures decades of aging potential with this bottle. The maceration is long, extending over 40 days, deepening the wine’s color, intensity, and powerful tannins. Four years in Slavonian oak casks plus further refinement in bottle serve to gently tame this giant without detracting from its expression of terroir. It’s a sublime combination of a legendary producer, site, and vintage.