2011 Barolo Rupestris
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Tasting notes
The 2011 Barolo Otin Fiorin Piè Rupestris - Nebioli shows all of the richness of the year in its bold, racy personality. I remember buying the 2011 on release and drinking a bottle that very same day. It’s that kind of wine. Pliant dark fruit and silky tannins make for an extremely accessible Barolo.
More reviews and scores
The 2011 Barolo Otin Fiorin Piè Rupestris-Nebioli is dark, sensual and open-knit. Hints of spice, leather, menthol and dried cherry open up nicely in the glass. A slightly roasted quality is evident. Even so, the 2011 is sensual and deeply layered throughout. My preference would be to drink it on the earlier side, within the context of Cappellano, which is to say between the ages of 15 and 30.
The 2011 Barolo Rupestris is an excellent choice for readers who want to get a Cappellano fix without waiting for years. Silky, open-knit and gracious, the 2011 will drink well pretty much right out of the gate. The 2011 is in the mold of years such as 2007 and 2009, where the wines offer so much early appeal. Today, the Rupestris seems to have handled the heat of the vintage a bit better than the Franco.
The 2011 Barolo Otin Fiorin Piè Rupestris-Nebioli is a gorgeous wine. Sweet, perfumed and inviting, the 2011 is going to need time to shed some baby fat. The elevated ripeness and alcohol of the year are both quite evident, and yet there is a certain raw magnetism to the 2011 that is quite appealing. I expect the 2011 will open up earlier than many recent vintages, but I would still give it time at the very least to recover from its recent bottling. As always, Cappellano prefers that scores for his wines not be published. I consider 2011 an intermediary vintage here, as it is pretty much everywhere.
About the producer
Serralunga d’Alba’s Cappellano is one of Barolo’s most legendary producers, producing ultra-traditional styles of Nebbiolo. Made famous by Teobaldo and now in the hands of his son Augusto, the estate is best known for its Barolo Piè Franco, a wine from ungrafted vines in the Gabutti Cru.