2016 Bruna Grimaldi Camilla Barolo Piedmont Italy 750 ml

Count us among those who are obsessed with Bruna Grimaldi’s mouthwatering, mineral-infused Barolo. It’s harder and harder to find great Barolo from top-flight producers without spending a fortune, which is why we’re rabid fans of Bruna Gimaldi, and why we highly recommend pouncing on this stellar cru value. 

At under $40, this is one of the best deals in the country right now, and represents a fantastic price for a Barolo fit for the short term or for the cellar. In essence, the 2016 Camilla bottles all the markers that make Nebbiolo wines incredibly satisfying and a sheer pleasure to drink, and we aren’t the only ones who think so: Wine Enthusiast awarded this “juicy and delicious” Barolo a glowing 95 points for its “unexpected finesse,” and Parker’s Wine Advocate was right behind, praising the crimson 2016’s “silky texture” and “seamless transitions.” 

We visited the Grimaldi family at their estate last year, and sampled the Camilla beneath the shadow of the 13th century Grinzane Cavour castle, where the Camilla vineyard lies. Sitting with Bruna Grimaldi herself and her husband and two children—the next generation to steward these hillside vineyards—we tasted this Nebbiolo alongside a spread fit for a royal feast. 

Over the next 45 minutes, we marveled as the Camilla unfolded before us… and we swiftly forgot about everything else. Like a blooming flower, aromas of dark cherry and cranberry gave way to dried roses and tea leaves, finally unfurling deep notes of tobacco, anise, and clove. When it came time to taste, the palate proved even more astonishing than the nose—it was broad, layered, and juicy, with polished, fine-grained tannins providing a generous backbone. The finish went on for miles. At that moment, we were in Barolo heaven.

As that meal proved, the Camilla is a beauty to drink today—on a picnic blanket or with a Michelin-inspired feast—but built to last the next five to eight years, at least. 

Grimaldi and her husband Fiorini produce Camilla from several distinct vineyards—including their famed Badarina, Bricco Ambrogio, and Camilla sites—in three locations: the vineyards in Serralunga that Bruna inherited from her mother, the vineyard in Roddi that she and Franco purchased, and the family’s original property in Grinzane Cavour. 

Made in a classic fashion, with aging in large oak barrels and a regimen that eschews chemicals and machines, Grimaldi wines pay a delicious homage to Barolo’s time-honored tradition. The result is a precise and firm Barolo that delivers a ton of value for the money, whether it is destined for the dinner table or the cellar.