2022 Damilano Lecinquevigne Barolo Piedmont 750 ml

You won’t find any tourists at Massimo Camia Ristorante, a locals’ favorite in La Morra. What you will find is a pillowy truffle-and-egg-dough pasta worthy of the establishment’s MICHELIN star—and a Barolo of such bold, wild beauty that we were staggered to discover the price tag.

We discovered Damilano’s Lecinquevigne at Massimo Camia, where it held its own against some of the most expensive bottles in the Langhe. Before the bill even dropped, we were hitting up the importer to claim every available case.

The cuvée’s name, Lecinquevigne, refers to the five famous Barolo crus from which it is sourced: Cannubi, Liste, Cerequio, Brunate, and Raviole. The estate—which dates back to 1890, making it one of the oldest houses in the region—has been working with the southeast-facing vineyards of these villages for generations.

The combined picture of the terroir, amplified by 40-year-old vines and elegant calcareous-clay soils, “offers a 360-degree view of Barolo,” says Wine Advocate. It’s everything we love about Barolo—at a value only made possible by the deep roots of “one of Barolo’s most historic families,” writes Vinous.

Since 2008, Damilano has committed almost entirely to a traditional expression in the cellar, moving away from French barriques in favor of large, untoasted oak casks that keep the wine’s fruit front-and-center. In a vintage like 2022, that philosophy pays particular dividends: the wines are floral, fruit-forward, and built for pleasure now rather than patience later.

The 2022 opens with red cherry, crushed raspberry, and dried rose, layered with orange peel, anise, and hints of worn leather. The palate is both structured and graceful, with vibrant red fruit and plum carried by firm, finely etched tannins and bright acidity. Nuances of tobacco leaf, tea spice, and crushed stone add savory depth through the mid-palate, with a long, poised finish that lingers with floral lift and mineral tension.