2015 Barolo & Piedmont Vintage

Winter brought plenty of snow, which gave the soil an excellent supply of water. Mild spring temperatures from February on brought the vegetative cycle forward, so bud break came earlier than in 2014, and flowering began towards the middle of May, followed by an excellent berry set. A series of rainfalls came between the end of May and the first ten days of June. From the second half of June through July there was no rain, and July maximums peaked at around 40C, with averages substantially above 30C, yet the water stored early in the year kept the vineyards free of heat stress. With so much sun, growers had to take care not to expose the clusters too much and risk scorching, especially in vineyards facing south and south-west. The climate limited fungal disease, and the only exceptions to excellent grape health were certain limited areas hit by hail. August stayed warm and September was more moderate; October brought some much-needed rain to refresh the Nebbiolo vines, and the harvest came later than in many hot, dry vintages. Ripening ran about ten days earlier than in 2014, in line with a normal year. White varieties were picked from the end of August to the middle of September, and the Dolcetto harvest began around the second week of September. On 23 September 2015, Damilano had not yet picked its Nebbiolo, with picking due to start that week. Production was on average within the norm, which allowed careful, targeted green harvesting.

• Snowy winter filled the soil with water; bud break earlier than 2014, flowering from around mid-May
• Rain from the end of May to early June, then no rain from the second half of June through July
• July maximums peaked around 40C, with averages substantially above 30C, but the vines were not heat-stressed
• Ripening about ten days earlier than 2014, in line with a normal year; production within the norm

White grapes came in very healthy, with a mean sugar reading of 19.3 degrees Babo and pH around 3.20. In Dolcetto the summer heat cut acidity more than in other varieties, while abundant sun built up anthocyanins, pointing to soft, deeply coloured wines. Barbera benefited from the year, with the July and late-summer heat breaking down its naturally high acidity and cooler nights helping balance anthocyanins and tannins. Nebbiolo ripened perfectly, slightly earlier than over the last few years, and the second part of the summer brought an impressive accumulation of polyphenols. Potential alcohol settled at around 14 to 14.5 percent, and the Consorzio judged the acidity of 6.5 g/l perfect for Nebbiolo. Its verdict: "all the conditions are in place for a truly great vintage: one to remember, like few others in history."

• Whites: mean sugar of 19.3 degrees Babo, pH around 3.20
• Dolcetto: heat lowered acidity more than in other varieties, with good anthocyanin build-up
• Nebbiolo: potential alcohol around 14 to 14.5 percent, acidity 6.5 g/l
• The Consorzio expected the excellent Nebbiolo tannins to give elegant, long-lasting wines with good structure

Paolo Damilano told WineNews in September 2015 that his vineyards went through "a first humid phase that required very careful management" before "the heat brought the situation back into balance" (translated). Pio Boffa of Pio Cesare called the whites and Dolcetto exceptional and the analytical data very good, with only quantity expected to be down (translated). Stefano Gagliardo of Gianni Gagliardo attributed the freshness of his wines to heavy snowfall the previous winter, which filled the ground with moisture that helped the vines survive the warm, dry summer. Luca Currado of Vietti said "2007, 2009 and 2011 were all warmer than 2015" and that "2015 was a warm vintage but the wines have good acidity, they are very classic." Giorgio Rivetti of La Spinetta cited "sweet, refined and mature tannin" as the outstanding quality of the vintage.

• Damilano: a humid first phase, then heat that restored balance
• Gagliardo: heavy winter snow kept the wines fresh
• Currado: 2007, 2009 and 2011 were all warmer than 2015
• Rivetti: sweet, refined and mature tannin

Nick Stock of JamesSuckling.com found the wines very expressive, with strong typicity by commune and by single vineyard. Higher-elevation sites such as Mosconi performed exceptionally well, with standout 2015 Mosconi wines from Pio Cesare (its first), Chiara Boschis and Gianni Gagliardo. The highest plaudits went to Cannubi, where the E. Pira Chiara Boschis Cannubi was exceptional and the Cannubi wines of Marchesi di Barolo, Giacomo Fenocchio, Damilano and Michele Chiarlo also rated exceptionally well. Some of the best vineyards around Castiglione Falletto were not far behind, with Vietti's Rocche di Castiglione one of the stars of the vintage and Arnaldo Rivera's Rocche di Castiglione and Boroli's Villero also praised.

• Cannubi drew the highest plaudits, led by E. Pira Chiara Boschis
• Castiglione Falletto: Vietti Rocche di Castiglione, one of the stars of the vintage
• Higher-elevation sites such as Mosconi performed exceptionally well
• Strong typicity by commune and single vineyard

Bruno Giacosa and Giacomo Conterno, two master producers of the region, both made a very strong statement of quality in 2015, in Stock's view. The Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche 2015 showed incredible verticality, richness and power, and James Suckling upgraded his score to 100 points from 99; Giacosa's Falletto Barbaresco Rabaja 2015 was also praised. At Giacomo Conterno, 2015 was the first vintage of the recently acquired Barolo Arione, shown alongside the Cerretta and Francia while still maturing in large casks. Poderi Aldo Conterno delivered a trio of excellent 2015 wines, and La Spinetta's Barolo Vursu Campe, Sandrone's Barolo Le Vigne and Conterno-Fantino's Ginestra Vigna Sori Ginestra were further highlights. Stock described the wines as exuberantly fragrant and rich in ripe, fine and powerful tannins, combining power with elegance.

• Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche 2015: upgraded to 100 points from 99 by James Suckling
• Giacomo Conterno Barolo Arione 2015: first vintage of the recently acquired Arione, with depth and approachability
• Vietti Barolo Rocche di Castiglione 2015: hauntingly complex, powerful and detailed
• Poderi Aldo Conterno: a trio of excellent 2015 wines, including Colonnello and Romirasco