Otto/Margherita Barolo 2019

95 points Kerin O'Keefe: "One of the Langhe’s up and coming estates, Margherita Otto is owned by American Alan Manly who learned the craft of winemaking from luminaries including Luciano Sandrone, Maria Teresa Mascarello, Elio Altare, Giuseppe and Alfio Cavallotto; all wineries where he gained first-hand experience before founding his own winery in 2015. Margherita Otto’s 2019 Barolo is classic, offering aromas of woodland berry, camphor, rose and underbrush while the elegant palate delivers ripe red cherry, blood orange and licorice before closing on a mineral note recalling rusty nail. Taut, refined tannins and vibrant acidity provide seamless support and impeccable balance. All about extreme finesse and precision, it also promises great aging potential so give it time to fully develop. Drink: 2028–2044. Abv: 14%. (Apr 2023)"

93 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2019 Barolo is a very pretty wine loaded with complexity. Macerated cherry, dried herbs, mint, sage and orange peel lend notable aromatic presence. There's terrific depth here. At the same time the aromas are a bit forward, so I would prefer to drink this on the early side. The only question mark for me is time in wood, which at 32 months is on the longer side by present day standards. "At my age, I don't have a ton of time to wait for the wines!" Alan Manley told me. Fair enough. The 2019 is the best wine Manley has made since setting up shop a few years ago. Even so, there seems to be even more potential to realize here. Drink: 2024-2036. (Jan 2023)"