95 points Michaela Morris (Decanter): "Two years on from the departure of former owners Luca Currado and Elena Penna, Vietti’s wines continue to honour their legacy. The only patent change is the removal of ‘Castiglione’ from the label of the estate’s classic Barolo. The construct remains the same, however: a multi-MGA, vintage-specific blend demonstrating the purity and precision found across the range. Gorgeously perfumed with rose, violet, black raspberry, liquorice and forest undergrowth among its many nuances, it boasts just the right amount of tightness, well measured density and a sophisticated chalky grip. Drinking Window: 2027-2039. (Jan 2025)"
95 points James Suckling: "A graceful wine with cinnamon, earth, strawberries, sweet violets and leesy complexity. There is a lot of fruit depth, with a full body, lifted acidity and dense, ripe, velvety tannins. The finish is polished yet tight. Drinkable now, but best from 2027. (Jan 2025)"
94 points Monica Larner (Wine Advocate): "This bottle marks the end of an era, and all you Barolo Castiglione fans out there are in for some very bad news. The name "Castiglione" is being taking off the bottle, and what we have instead is the Vietti 2021 Barolo. In truth, the name "Castiglione" does appear in very small, small letters at the bottom of the label for old time's sake, but during my discussion during this tasting, I agreed to remove it from the wine's official name in our database. I'm told it will definitely be gone by the next release. Apparently, the estate was on the wrong end of a copyright issue, so it had to go. Winemaking has not changed, and the wine remains a blend of 20-plus MGA sites. There is no particular set formula. The parcels are fermented separately and a final blending decision is made further down the road. You still get the same phenomenal value. This wine offers firm structure, plummy dark fruit flavors and elegantly chalky tannins. The finish is a little dry, and that ending gives the wine a near-term personality. Drink: 2025-2040. (Jan 2025)"
94 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2021 Barolo Castiglione is a superb entry-level Barolo from Vietti. Rich, deep and layered in the glass, the 2021 offers tons of near- and medium-term appeal. The blend of sites is compelling. Dark red-toned fruit, spice, menthol, and licorice are all beautifully amplified. In 2021, the Castiglione approaches the level of the crus, and that is saying something. Drink 2029-2041 (Jan 2025)"
94 points Ian D'Agata Wine Review: "Deep ruby-red. Multidimensional and very perfumed aromas of raspberry, iron, smoked meat, Indian spices and herbs. Seamless and intensely flavored in the mouth, with wonderfully vibrant flavours of red cherries and berries, and sweet but firm underlying tannic structure. A real whiplash of red fruits, leather and minerals rise on the saline, very food-friendly finish. At Vietti, they have twenty crus in nine of the eleven communes allowed to make Barolo (no Roddi and no Cherasco). There’s a general tendency to always say and write great things about this wine, but there’s no getting around the fact that the 2021 Castiglione is a real knockout. Drinking window: 2028-2039. (Dec 2024)"
93 points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "The 2021 Barolo Castiglione is a ruby red color and is floral on the nose, opening to perfumed aromas of roses, fresh cherries, sweet herbs, and dusty earth. Medium-bodied, it has a lovely structure and is very well-balanced, and I love the apricot-noted fruit on the finish. The fruit is more present than in the 2020 version of the same wine. A fantastic vintage for this entry-level wine, I love it already and would be happy to grab a few cases to enjoy over the coming 15 years. (Moving forward, due to newly implemented labeling restrictions, they are going to remove “Castiglione” from the front label, and it will only be on noted the back label.) Drink 2025-2040 (May 2025)"
95 points James Suckling: "A graceful wine with cinnamon, earth, strawberries, sweet violets and leesy complexity. There is a lot of fruit depth, with a full body, lifted acidity and dense, ripe, velvety tannins. The finish is polished yet tight. Drinkable now, but best from 2027. (Jan 2025)"
94 points Monica Larner (Wine Advocate): "This bottle marks the end of an era, and all you Barolo Castiglione fans out there are in for some very bad news. The name "Castiglione" is being taking off the bottle, and what we have instead is the Vietti 2021 Barolo. In truth, the name "Castiglione" does appear in very small, small letters at the bottom of the label for old time's sake, but during my discussion during this tasting, I agreed to remove it from the wine's official name in our database. I'm told it will definitely be gone by the next release. Apparently, the estate was on the wrong end of a copyright issue, so it had to go. Winemaking has not changed, and the wine remains a blend of 20-plus MGA sites. There is no particular set formula. The parcels are fermented separately and a final blending decision is made further down the road. You still get the same phenomenal value. This wine offers firm structure, plummy dark fruit flavors and elegantly chalky tannins. The finish is a little dry, and that ending gives the wine a near-term personality. Drink: 2025-2040. (Jan 2025)"
94 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2021 Barolo Castiglione is a superb entry-level Barolo from Vietti. Rich, deep and layered in the glass, the 2021 offers tons of near- and medium-term appeal. The blend of sites is compelling. Dark red-toned fruit, spice, menthol, and licorice are all beautifully amplified. In 2021, the Castiglione approaches the level of the crus, and that is saying something. Drink 2029-2041 (Jan 2025)"
94 points Ian D'Agata Wine Review: "Deep ruby-red. Multidimensional and very perfumed aromas of raspberry, iron, smoked meat, Indian spices and herbs. Seamless and intensely flavored in the mouth, with wonderfully vibrant flavours of red cherries and berries, and sweet but firm underlying tannic structure. A real whiplash of red fruits, leather and minerals rise on the saline, very food-friendly finish. At Vietti, they have twenty crus in nine of the eleven communes allowed to make Barolo (no Roddi and no Cherasco). There’s a general tendency to always say and write great things about this wine, but there’s no getting around the fact that the 2021 Castiglione is a real knockout. Drinking window: 2028-2039. (Dec 2024)"
93 points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "The 2021 Barolo Castiglione is a ruby red color and is floral on the nose, opening to perfumed aromas of roses, fresh cherries, sweet herbs, and dusty earth. Medium-bodied, it has a lovely structure and is very well-balanced, and I love the apricot-noted fruit on the finish. The fruit is more present than in the 2020 version of the same wine. A fantastic vintage for this entry-level wine, I love it already and would be happy to grab a few cases to enjoy over the coming 15 years. (Moving forward, due to newly implemented labeling restrictions, they are going to remove “Castiglione” from the front label, and it will only be on noted the back label.) Drink 2025-2040 (May 2025)"
| Product SKU | 355746 |
| Producer | Vietti |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| SubRegion | Barolo DOCG |
| Varietal | Nebbiolo |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| Ships To |
