The 2019 Barolo Ravera is beautiful with floral and spice perfume and offers a Burgundian aesthetic, with notes of apricot and wet stone. It is medium-bodied, highly refined, and pure, with complexity that continues to evolve in the glass, revealing notes of rhubarb, apricot, wild raspberry, and dusty earth. A beautiful and expressive wine with a lot of grace, it is going to drink well at a lot of stages, so don't worry about whether to drink it soon or forget about it in the cellar over the next two decades.
96+ points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (May 2023)
This wine opens a window on one of the best cru sites in the appellation—the Ravera Vineyard on the Novello side, where steep hills descend down from a castle perched atop a beautiful panorama. From this vantage point, you look up at Novello and the Elvio Cogno winery built midway up the incline. The 2019 Barolo Ravera benefits from this special place and represents a wider net of fruit selected from across the estate vineyard. As a result, Ravera often shows extra versatility and depth. The 2019 vintage offers wild berry, blackcurrant, tart fruit, iodine and campfire ash. This is on the darker and more concentrated side of the Barolo spectrum. 15,000 bottles were released.
96 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Aug 2023)
Crushed raspberries and sour cherries lift from the glass, with hints of rosebud, thyme and leather. The elegant palate showcases proper tannin management with supple tannin, and vibrant acidity creating an elegant profile. The palate continues with notes of red nectarine, macerated raspberries and crushed stones that are all additive as the wine will continue to develop with time in the cellar. Drink 2025–2045.
96 points, Jeff Porter, Wine Enthusiast (Dec 2023)
Tannins are sheer and long with a steely and muscular nature, yet they are nicely integrated. Full and toned. This is a wine for the cellar yet it already shows pretty floral and blue fruit character. Drink after 2029.
96 points, James Suckling (Jul 2023)
There’s a lot going on in this complex red, which is loaded with cherry, strawberry, earth, spice and iron flavors, revealing hints of menthol and tobacco. Harmonious, with a long, resonant finish that echoes both the fruit and savory notes. Best from 2026 through 2045. 625 cases made, 365 cases imported.
95 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (Dec 2023)
Intense aromas of rose petal and red cherry surge from this wine, their freshness carrying into pure and crisp red-fruit tones framed by taut, mineral tannins. This wine exhibits the power and precision of Ravera, taking its time to reveal hints of menthol and white pepper highlighting the inclusion of 50 percent stems during vinification.
95 points, Wine & Spirits (Oct 2023)
Using two clones of 70- to 80-year-old Nebbiolo on calcareous soil in the distinguished MGA of Ravera, this 2019 has incredible energy. Delicate red fruits accompany earthy depths and balsamic lift, while in the mouth grippy tannins underline concentrated wild red fruits. It's vertical in nature – as you may expect given the limestone soils – delivering a shot of citrus peel on the long and super-fresh finish.
95 points, James Button, Decanter (Apr 2023)