Barolo, Bussia Vigna Fantini, 2021

Name: Barolo, Bussia Vigna Fantini
Brand: Paolo Scavino
Price: 340 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2021

justerini & brooks tasting note

The first vintage. Pleasingly easy to read, with a glassy, transparent feel that renders this Barolo sculpted and energising – not a strapping Bussia, but one of fresh alpine berries, salts and citrus. Fantini is a small area in the southern sector of Bussia. The soils are primarily sandstone-derived, and the vines are surrounded by woods, supplied by a natural well, helping to replenish the dry soils. Interestingly, this is not the first time Scavino have bottled a Bussia, rather this is a revival! In the 1980s, Scavino had a lease on a plot in Bussia Colonello, which they ultimately lost. Now, in Fantini, they have a young plot established by a leading agronomist. “It looks like a botanical garden.” Bussia is a huge cru in Monforte d’Alba. As such, it is common to include the subzone on the label to accurately reflect its origin.

critic reviews

95/100Monica Larner,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Here is an intense Nebbiolo that shows all the depth and power of Serralunga d'Alba. The Paolo Scavino 2021 Barolo Prapo is a well-built wine with ample flavor parameters that extend both horizontally and vertically. That wide sweep includes dark fruit, plum, red rose and iron ore. The tannins are a little softer compared to many other expressions from this village, and the wine offers medium-plus richness to close. The Scavino family purchased this 0.7-hectare vineyard in 2008 and planted it in 2010. Nebbiolo vines with loose clusters, low yields and better ripening were chosen for a massal selection. Open clusters are helpful in combating mildew disease. The family noticed that Prapo develops a pretty sense of sweetness and aromatic complexity, and that's why they decided to ferment it separately. However, Prapo is ultimately less extreme compared to some of the other sites in this village.

DRINKING WINDOW 2026 - 2045

date of review 01/2025

96/100Antonio Galloni,Vinous

The 2021 Barolo Prapò is fabulous. It offers up an exotic mix of dark fruit, lavender, graphite, plum and scorched earth, with firm, muscular Serralunga tannins to back it all up. Readers will have to be patient with the 2021. It's a superb wine in the making, but very much a Serralunga Barolo that needs time to blossom.

DRINKING WINDOW 2028 - 2041

date of review 01/2025