2020 Alessandro Rivetto Barolo DOCG, Piemonte, Italy 🇮🇹

The Moment

Some Nebbiolos are built around perfume.
Others are built around permanence.

The 2020 Alessandro Rivetto Barolo DOCG feels like the kind of bottle that reminds you why Barolo still carries so much gravity — not because it is loud, but because it is so composed. A ruby-red color with light orange highlights, a nose of dry petals of roses and violets with a touch of dusky spice, and a palate that is dry, full-bodied, austere and robust, though velvety and well-balanced.

This is 100% Nebbiolo from the town of Barolo, grown on clay, limestone, and marl soils, from vines averaging 40–50 years old. The élevage is serious and traditional: after 10–15 days on skins and malolactic fermentation, the wine is transferred to oak barrels for an average of 30 months, then held another minimum of 6 months in bottle before release. That is a lot of time for a wine to settle into itself, and it shows in the way the estate describes the balance between austerity and velvet.

What It Feels Like

Think the kind of dinner that starts slowly, roasted meat on the table, and a bottle that asks everyone to take a little more time.

What makes this wine compelling is the classic Barolo contradiction: it is both severe and graceful. The dry rose and violet notes bring floral lift, the dusky spice adds dimension, and the full-bodied, robust palate gives the wine its spine. It is still velvety and well-balanced, which is exactly what makes a traditional Barolo feel less forbidding and more complete.

In the Glass

Aromatics
Dry rose petals, violets, and dusky spice.

Palate
Dry, full-bodied, austere, and robust, with classic Nebbiolo structure balanced by a velvety feel.

Texture
Firm and serious, but polished by time in barrel and bottle.

Finish
Long, savory, and structured, with floral lift and spice carrying through the close. 

Why We Love This Bottle

A Barolo In A Traditional Register
Everything here points toward a classic expression: old vines, hand harvest, extended skin contact, long barrel aging, and real bottle rest before release.

The Town Of Barolo Matters
The fruit comes exclusively from the town of Barolo, which gives the wine a little extra gravitas right from the start. That is a direct estate detail and an important part of the bottle’s identity.

A Wine Built For The Table
The producer specifically recommends it with roasted meats, game, dishes with truffle, and very aged cheeses, which tells you exactly where this wine wants to live.

Pair It With

• Roasted meats
• Game
• Dishes with truffle
• Very aged cheeses
• Braised beef

Technical Notes

Producer: Alessandro Rivetto
Wine: Barolo DOCG
Vintage: 2020
Region: Piemonte, Italy
City: Barolo
Grape: 100% Nebbiolo (Michet, Lampia, Rosé clones)
Soil: Clay · Limestone · Marl

Vineyard Notes:
The vines are trained in Guyot, average 40–50 years old, and yield approximately 2 tons per acre.

Winemaking:
The grapes are hand-harvested in October, collected in small baskets, then pressed and destemmed. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled vats for 10–15 days on the skins with frequent pump-overs. After malolactic fermentation, the wine ages in oak barrels for around 30 months, followed by a minimum 6 months in bottle before release.

Body: Full
Structure: Firm tannin · robust frame · velvety balance · long finish

Flavor Profile
Rose Petal · Violet · Dusky Spice · Savory Earth

Serving Temperature
64°F

Drink Window
Now–2038