Galloni’s Picks from Piedmont 2022

We continue our Piedmont 2022 EP coverage with a trio of wines that come recommended by leading Italian critic Antonio Galloni. The three wines presented below each present a different face of the wonderfully diverse Barolo denomination.

Fratelli Alessandria is located in the village of Verduno, representing the region’s northern outpost, and Monvigliero is celebrated for its white soils, diurnal swing and windy microclimate that maximises red-fruited, floral and spice aromatics in the wines.

The 2022 Barolo Monvigliero shows why this is such a great site. Even in the torrid and parched 2022 vintage, the Monvigliero retains all of its signatures. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, chalk, mint, rose petal, white pepper and vibrant saline notes all race out of the glass. This has real potential. – 92-94pts, Antonio Galloni.

Altare’s Arborina vineyard is in La Morra, in the Annunziata subzone, where the wines typically offer a depth of red and dark berries, violets, and background hints of earth, coffee and spice.

The 2022 Barolo Arborina is laced with crushed flowers, vibrant red-toned fruit, mint, white pepper, orange peel and dried herbs. In 2022, the Arborina is a bit more explosively fruity than it usually is, and yet all the elements are very nicely put together. High-toned aromatics are evident. Most notably, the biting tannins that are typical of this site have been tempered somewhat, making the 2022 a relatively accessible young Barolo in this range. – 93pts, Antonio Galloni.

Paolo Scavino’s Prapo vineyard is in Serralunga d’Alba, typically producing darker, more liquorice-led wines, full in body but with pliant tannins and hints of brioche alongside currants and waves of dark fruit. A lesser-known but great site, Prapo is warm and early to ripen.

The 2022 Barolo Prapò is one of the highlights in this range from Scavino. It offers good brightness and energy for the year. Dark red-toned fruit, blood orange, iron, incense, gravel and white pepper form an exotic mélange of aromas and flavors that gradually open in the glass. There's a good bit of Serralunga tannin, but this should drink well with minimal cellaring. This is a terrific effort from the Scavino family – 93pts, Antonio Galloni.