The Bricco Boschis Cru is one of Castiglione Falletto’s most profound vineyards:
an amphitheatre-shaped site producing this estate’s most emblematic Barolo wines. Facing south/southeast, this sun-drenched hill has long been considered one of Barolo’s blue-ribbon vineyards. The entire planted area covers some 8.8 hectares. Yet, because of variations in soil composition, elevation and aspect, Cavallotto parcellates the site into three subzones: Vigne Colle Sud-Ovest, Punta Marcello and Vigna San Giuseppe. The last of these is also bottled as a single Cru Riserva, which we have here. The densely planted old vines grow at 300-360 metres altitude, and the soils—a patchwork of yellow, white and grey calcareous clays interwoven with sand and sandstone—are as varied as the vineyard’s myriad exposures.
Vigna San Giuseppe is a 3.7-hectare parcel on a steep slope behind the cantina. It has long been considered the sweet spot for this vineyard, consistently delivering one of the region’s greatest Barolos. You get the best of everything: altitude (but not too much); excellent drainage (but enough water retention thanks to the clay, so the vines don’t stress in dry conditions); and a complex mixture of soils, including blue-tinted clays (for power), limestone (freshness and mineral drive) and sand (prettiness and perfume). The stars align to produce something magnificent once you add especially small bunches from the 60-year-old vines, unique clonal material and southwest exposure. This 2018 spent 28 days on skins followed by five years in large cask. Made from half a crop this year, it’s a powerful yet seductive Barolo for which greatness is guaranteed.
Critic Reviews
97 POINTS
Falstaff
Bright ruby in colour with a fine garnet shimmer. The nose, opens with spicy notes of cardamom and coriander seed, followed by strawberry and raspberry, with black truffle in the background. The palate is compact and dense, showing great weight, with fine herbal spice and some liquorice and ripe plum on the long finish.
97 POINTS
Falstaff
Bright ruby colour with a fine garnet shimmer. Opens with savoury notes of cardamom and coriander seeds, followed by strawberry and raspberry, with black truffles in the background. Compact and dense on the palate, showing great weight, fine herbal savouriness, some liquorice and ripe plums on the long finish.
96 POINTS
Monica Larner - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Aged in Slavonian oak botti for an impressive 60 months, the organic 2018 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is the big gun from vintner Alfio Cavallotto and his merry team in Castiglione Falletto. This wine is impossibly complex and deep with savory knots that are tied into fabric or rich dark fruit. The bouquet opens to blackberry, plum cola, dried herb, spice and a lingering floral note of lilac or violet. To my palate, the Riserva Vignolo has a little more vertical lift and minerality in this vintage. The Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is more about heft and texture, with dusty tannin. Production is 7,222 bottles.
95 POINTS
Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous
The 2018 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is quite the powerhouse. Sage, menthol, licorice, cloves, dried flowers, scorched earth, leather and gravel infuse the San Giuseppe with all of its classic signatures. A dense, backward Barolo, the 2018 is going to need a handful of years to soften. It is a super-impressive wine for what has turned out to be an irregular vintage. This is beautifully done.
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Tasting Notes
The Bricco Boschis Cru is one of Castiglione Falletto’s most profound vineyards:
an amphitheatre-shaped site producing this estate’s most emblematic Barolo wines. Facing south/southeast, this sun-drenched hill has long been considered one of Barolo’s blue-ribbon vineyards. The entire planted area covers some 8.8 hectares. Yet, because of variations in soil composition, elevation and aspect, Cavallotto parcellates the site into three subzones: Vigne Colle Sud-Ovest, Punta Marcello and Vigna San Giuseppe. The last of these is also bottled as a single Cru Riserva, which we have here. The densely planted old vines grow at 300-360 metres altitude, and the soils—a patchwork of yellow, white and grey calcareous clays interwoven with sand and sandstone—are as varied as the vineyard’s myriad exposures.
Vigna San Giuseppe is a 3.7-hectare parcel on a steep slope behind the cantina. It has long been considered the sweet spot for this vineyard, consistently delivering one of the region’s greatest Barolos. You get the best of everything: altitude (but not too much); excellent drainage (but enough water retention thanks to the clay, so the vines don’t stress in dry conditions); and a complex mixture of soils, including blue-tinted clays (for power), limestone (freshness and mineral drive) and sand (prettiness and perfume). The stars align to produce something magnificent once you add especially small bunches from the 60-year-old vines, unique clonal material and southwest exposure. This 2018 spent 28 days on skins followed by five years in large cask. Made from half a crop this year, it’s a powerful yet seductive Barolo for which greatness is guaranteed.
