Conterno/Aldo Barolo Cicala 2019 1.5L

98 points Falstaff Guide: "Powerful, bright ruby garnet. Compact nose with appealing notes of rose petals, rose hips, raspberries and some leather. Lots of rich berry fruit on the palate, unfolds over time with dense, tight tannins, lots of drive on the finish, lingers very long. (10/6/23)"

97 points Bruce Sanderson (Wine Spectator): "[$250/750ml list] Pure and supple in texture, boasting aromas and flavors of rose, cherry, raspberry, vanilla and toasty oak, this red is pretty seamless already, with refined tannins that emerge on the finish, needing time to absorb the oak. There’s also a saline mineral element that lingers at the end. Best from 2027 through 2048. 495 cases made, 45 cases imported. (4/30/24)"

96 points James Suckling: "Lots of burnt orange peel, nutmeg, hazelnut and ripe/dried strawberry aromas follow through to a medium to full body, with firm and linear tannins and a fresh and vivid finish. Energetic and fine. Better after 2027. (7/28/23)"

96 points Ian D'Agata (Terroir Sense): "Deep vivid red. Extremely typical nose of Cicala with an obvious leather and cherry skin component to the dark red cherry fruit aromas and also less florality than is typical of the other Aldo Conterno Barolos. Then very rich, ripe and juicy, with some red cherry syrup nuances to the fresh red berry, herbal, leather and earthy flavours. Big but very refined Barolo and quite vertical on the long, vibrant finish. In fact, the 2019 strikes me as a very vertical Cicala (the hillside is much more steep than Colonello’s vineyard site and the soil is poorer, so not only do the roots have to dig deeper but the sunlight hits the grapes at a different angle), making for a much livelier, lifted Barolo Cicala than is usual. Great stuff. Drinking window: 2030-2045. (12/8/23)"