Classic, characterful Barolo
...and it won't break the bank
When we first visited Bruna Grimaldi in Grinzane Cavour, we felt we had met a young winemaker of real promise. Simone was doing everything you would want to see: all the vineyards converted to organics in 2014; the new but traditionally appointed winery; modern training, all married to a respect for the traditional culture and wines of Piedmont which comes from being the fourth generation farming these hills.
This makes it all the more pleasing to see the wines improve from year to year. Simone's style is surprisingly refined for someone so young; his wines are fresh, characterful and, most importantly, greatly drinkable. His approach means he has avoided the main risk in 2015, that being over-ripeness. The Camilla is their traditional blend. Still great value, it now includes fruit from a new parcel of San Lorenzo in Verduno where their cousin Vittore from Fratelli Alessandria, another Uncorked favourite, also has a parcel. Vibrant and open, it retains a cool vein of freshness. The Bricco Ambrogio, from their holdings in Roddi, is more classical in its structure. Grippy and savoury, but the tannins are wonderfully managed.
The jewel in their vineyard holdings is Vigna Regnola in Serralunga - the finest parcel in the Badarina cru. Such is the uniformly high quality this year that the Regnola is being blended into Badarina making it the finest Badarina I have tasted from the estate. The year's solar qualities have tempered the classic Serralunga structure and added an unexpected juiciness. It is a shame to lose the Regnola bottling but this is a wonderfully seductive and radiant Badarina. /EE
Offered subject to remaining unsold; for shipment Autumn 2019
