2016 Poderi Luigi Einaudi Ludo Barolo Piedmont Italy 750 ml

There’s a very short list of bottles that we always order, no matter where we’re dining or what happens to be on the menu. And we never, ever pass on Luigi Einaudi’s outstanding Ludo Barolo. 

It’s not just because the rare wine is normally claimed by savvy East Coast restaurateurs as soon as it hits shore. It’s because Ludo represents the very best of Barolo at a price that could and should be double… and to understand how serious we are about that, you’ve got to look behind the label. 

Three of Einaudi’s most prized bottlings bear the names of three of Barolo’s most revered crus—Bussia, Cannubi, and Terlo—and are priced accordingly, around and above three digits. Ludo hails from those very same three sites, but the prestigious vineyard names are not on the label, which means the price doesn’t come anywhere close. 

We’ve always wanted to offer Ludo, and have had our eye on the 2016 for two years, ever since we tasted it with fourth-generation proprietor Matteo Sardagna during our visit to Dogliani. Grown in a flawless vintage, it was easy to see the wine’s potential then, and it’s only gotten better since. 

Showing a classic ruby center and garnet overtones at the rim, it’s got deep scents of dried black cherry, candied cranberries, fleshy plums, and dark strawberries, all accented by licorice, clove, nutmeg, and cracked walnut shells. After getting some air, it’s chiseled, yet round and supple on the palate, with polished ripeness to the long, voluminous finish.

Once you taste this incredible Barolo, you’ll be just like us: on the lookout for Ludo wherever you go. 

The Einaudi wine estate dates back to 1915, when it was founded by Luigi Einaudi, a prominent citizen who eventually served as President of Italy. As he acquired land for his vineyards, he paid close attention to position, exposure, and soil type, and eventually pieced together one of the most formidable estates in the area. Ludo is a testament to that excellent terroir, combining the power of Bussia, the elegance of Cannubi, and the balance of Terlo.