2021 Barolo Castelletto
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2023 Barolo Castelletto offers more notable tension and nervous energy upfront at this early tasting. It’s bright and focused in the glass, with spiced notes of grenadine, anise, wet stones, and clove. The palate has a more vertical feel, with compact, coiled tannins, ripe acidity, and a long-lasting finish. It speaks to the area of Monforte d’Alba and has a more assertive nature, but it’s not quite ready to go and should either be served with richer fatty foods or pork or otherwise given more time. Hold off here and drink 2027-2050. Each of the Burlotto wines for this report were tasted at the winery in Verduno with Fabio Burlotto at the end of February, 2025.
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
With fruit from Monforte d'Alba, the Comm. G.B. Burlotto 2021 Barolo Castelletto is especially linear and sharp with exacting focus that is underlined by crushed limestone, violet, blood orange and a hint of glossy latex. The effect is brilliant and intense. I came back to my open bottle 12 hours later and found a wine of impeccable balance, with polished tannins and shiny fruit flavors. Gleam and energy best describe the character of this Nebbiolo.
Monforte d'Alba. Pale ruby. Concentrated raspberry with the subtlest hints of fruitcake, and very slow to fully open up. Great purity of fruit on the palate. Plenty of concentration and at the same time elegance. Firm structure that falls perfectly in line with the fruit on the finish. Embryonic. (WS)
The 2021 Barolo Castelletto is dense, compact and packed to the core. Menthol, spice, leather, lavender and sage give the 2021 tons of savory intensity, the signature of this sector. Readers will have to be patient with the 2021—it's a big, strapping Barolo with a bright future. All the hallmarks of Monforte come through loud and clear, namely dark-fleshed fruit, balsamic layers, mineral undertones and imposing tannins