2016 Damilano Cannubi Barolo 750 ml

Barolo’s Cannubi cru enjoys the same reverence as Napa’s To Kalon or Burgundy’s Richebourg. Antonio Galloni called it “among the most precious vineyards anywhere in the world,” and from it, the fourth-generation Damilano family crafted one of the greatest Barolos of the superb 2016 vintage. 

The 2016 Damilano Cannubi Barolo is a centerpiece-worthy addition to any cellar. It earned 98 points from Italian-wine expert James Suckling—only three bottles scored higher, and the two that have been released go for $340+—along with 97 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. 

With moderate temperatures and dry days, the start of the 2016 season crept slowly along until Mother Nature turned up the thermostat, starting slowly in July and running through August and September. Showers occasionally broke up the summer heat and kept temperatures in fine balance. The cool end to the season meant that harvest started five days later than average—and when all was said and done, Wine Advocate rated the vintage 97 points, making it one of the best in two decades. 

Grape growers recognized the sublime quality of the fruit grown on Cannubi’s slopes as early as the 18th century, and they even put the vineyard's name on bottles long before the Barolo category was invented. Derived from a local dialect, “Cannubi'' translates as “mix of soil,” and refers to the geological anomaly that makes the vineyard a unique and magnificent site: It is the only location in Barolo to feature both Tortonian marl and chalky, iron-rich Helvetian soils. This intersection contributes to the wine’s terrific complexity, manifesting both the graceful and muscular aspects of Barolo’s soul.