Elio Grasso - Barolo Rüncot Riserva 2020

Please note: This is our Best Price per bottle. No additional discounts can be applied, though it does count towards building a case.

According to Gianluca Grasso, it’s all about the soil. He insists that the winemaking has minimal effect; it’s that sandy, calcareous soil of Monforte that is responsible for his world-class wines. He may be a bit humble-- it takes a steady hand to tame this wild fruit. Winemaking techniques certainly run the gamut in Barolo — from fleshy, dark, modern-style wines to more aromatically-driven, earthy, tannic examples. Often, the best wines are somewhere in the middle, and no producer in the region seems to find a better marriage of elegant aromatics and lush, powerful fruit than Gianluca and his father Elio.

The 2020 Rüncot is an aromatic fireworks show, with layers of anise-tinged rose petals, spices and tar. The wine is packed, with a spectacular purity of fruit. The tannin structure is tightly-knit, very, very fine, creating a finish that speaks to the mineral vineyard — a finish that screams Rüncot!

This is a classic vin de garde — its potential for long life is almost limitless. I fully expect collectors to be talking about this wine for the next thirty years. More importantly, it's a pleasure to see such a wonderful family of winegrowers realize what they believe is their best wine ever from one of the greatest vineyards in the world.