2017 Elio Grasso “Gavarini Chiniera” Barolo
Here is one of those deals that stops you in your tracks: a single-vineyard Barolo from a master producer, Elio
Producer
Elio Grasso
I have reviewed four wines from Elio Grasso, from the 2017 to 2023 vintages, across Barolo, Barbera d'Alba and Langhe. Most are Nebbiolo. Scores range from 93 to 97, averaging 95; the highest is the 2017 Elio Grasso “Ginestra Casa Maté” Barolo (97 points). Elio Grasso also features in one journal article on this site.
Elio Grasso is a model of consistency and terroir-driven winemaking in Monforte d’Alba. The estate has always vinified only its own fruit, a rarity in the region’s past, and is now run by Elio’s son Gianluca. Its style bridges tradition and modernity, with polish, precision and an ability to articulate clearly the differences between its sites.
Two single-vineyard Barolos define the house. Gavarini Chiniera is the more elegant and vertical, on sandier soil, and one of the essential Barolos for anyone who values precision; Ginestra Casa Maté, on clay, is the more powerful. Both carry the classic Monforte notes of iron, scorched earth and savory herbs, and even in the hot, dry 2017 vintage they channelled their concentration into balance.
The estate is just as convincing below the crus. The Langhe Nebbiolo comes from young vines in Gavarini and drinks like a baby Barolo, with the firm tannic frame of the commune. Vigna Martina is one of the very few Barberas grown in Monforte, a serious, site-driven wine that shows how the grape can shine on the limestone of Barolo country and age gracefully for five to eight years.
2021 Barolo – Vintage Report
After a series of warmer, solar vintages, 2021 marks a majestic return to the “Alpine” soul of Nebbiolo. Defined by a long, snowy winter and a perfectly paced autumn, this is a vintage of noble austerity and breathtaking precision. These are not the open-knit wines of 2020; they are tension-filled, vertical, and built for the long haul. With “crunchy” red fruit, savory minerality, and a spine of vibrant acidity, 2021 is being hailed as the most complete and “classic” vintage since 2016—a year where the distinct terroir of each commune is rendered in high definition.
2017 Elio Grasso “Ginestra Casa Maté” Barolo
Here is one of those deals that stops you in your tracks: a single-vineyard Barolo from a master producer, Elio
2022 Elio Grasso Vigna Martina Barbera D’Alba
One of the very few Barbera grown in the town of Monforte D’Alba. This is a statement on how this
2023 Elio Grasso Gavarini Nebbiolo Langhe
I mean this literary is the young vines that Elio Grasso used for his top classic single vineyard Barolo “Galvarini”