The Arnaldo Rivera 2019 Barolo Cannubi is a real gem. Good full bright dark red. Perfumed aromas of red rose, red cherry, licorice, sandalwood and minerals on the extremely inviting nose. Then suave and lifted, with outstanding clarity and cut to the precise flavours of red cherry, aromatic herbs, candied violet, and black tea, complicated by a sprinkling of mineral dust. The aftertaste is long suave and vibrant. This beautiful Barolo boasts impeccable balance and sneaky concentration, yet it is so charming it can be drunk right now, though it will certainly improve with a few more years spent in a good cellar. It will also age and hold up splendidly for the next twenty years. I think this is the best Barolo Arnaldo Rivera has ever made: the first whiff unequivocally states that you are in the presence of something special, the result of a combination of the excellent 2019 vintage, the Cannubi-proper or Centrale origin of the grapes, and Arnaldo Rivera’s viticultural and winemaking technical prowess. Well done.

95 point

Aromas of dark cherries, plum skins, chocolate orange, tree bark, dark cedar, wet asphalt and tar. Full and intense with polished and refined tannins. Wide and broad with dense red and dark berry character, dried flowers and spices. Very powerful. Lingering and savory at the end.

94 point

94P+: Here is another exciting addition to a growing portfolio of wines from the various villages and vineyard crus of Barolo. From a classic vintage, the Arnaldo Rivera 2019 Barolo Cannubi has a note of sweet cherry or candied raspberry that gives this wine extra lift and brightness. That sharp fruit note is accompanied by violets and roses, and the overall effect is very pretty. On second nose, you get a little more spice and tar that serve to ground the wine in terms of texture and mouthfeel. The vineyards were planted in 1946.