Barolo 'La Serra'

Score

96

"A transparent medium red color, the 2021 Barolo La Serra is more Monforte in style than the La Morra vineyards they work. It's perfumed with notes of orange peel, clove spice, cranberry, dark resinous herbs, and pine. Built for the long haul, it's chiseled in its structure and just keeps going on the palate and in the glass. Stash this away and drink 2027-2047."

Score

95

"As these wines from Mauro Molino move up the ladder to more intense and structured fruit, they also tend to show more oak, which works well if you intend to cellar your bottles for a longer time but doesn't work as well if you are interested in consuming them sooner. That is the paradox of a vintage as beautiful as 2021, which performs so nicely even with minimal oak use. The 2021 Barolo La Serra draws its fruit from a site in La Morra that always tends to offer underlying tension and firmness. It shows terrific vertical intensity in this case, backed by extra ripeness, spice and textural richness. Only 2,700 bottles were created."

Score

94

"The 2021 Barolo La Serra is another terrific wine in this range from Molino. Dark cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, incense and sage bring out the darker side of Nebbiolo, while time in the glass fills out the layers effortlessly. Beams of supporting tannin support the finish."

Score

94

"Defined by its bracing acidity and assertive yet refined tannins, this red expresses aromas and flavors of strawberry, cranberry, rose hip and sweet spices. Expands nicely on the palate to the extended finish, where a solid grip and oak spice accents emerge. Best from 2029 through 2046.—B.S."

Score

17.5

"La Morra. Just mid ruby with orange tinges. Headily perfumed and multi-layered nose. Compact and not fully open yet on the palate, it still conveys real complexity and depth. Layered and long, with long-lasting sandy tannins. A wine worth waiting for. (WS)"