2017 Bruno Giacosa AA Falletto Barolo, Piedmont

Sweet berries, smoke, cedar and olives on the nose. Floral. Full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and a pretty background and ripe fruit. Flavorful finish. Hints of bitter citrus and smoke, too. Very complex. Powerful for Falletto. Drink after 2026.

97 points James Suckling

From the historic Falletto vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba, Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto is one of Piedmont’s most revered expressions of Nebbiolo. The Giacosa name carries immense weight in Barolo, built on decades of uncompromising attention to detail and a deep respect for terroir. Today, under the guidance of the Giacosa family, the estate continues to produce wines of extraordinary precision and longevity, with Falletto sitting among the crown jewels of the portfolio.

A luminous garnet with brick tinges sits in the glass. Aromas unfold slowly with rose petal, red cherry and raspberry layered with orange peel, spice, tobacco and a complex earthy depth. There is an immediate sense of pedigree, refined and quietly powerful.

The palate is medium to full bodied and beautifully structured, delivering vibrant red fruit framed by firm, finely etched tannins and bright acidity. Notes of cranberry, liquorice, tea leaf and savoury earth build through the mid palate, leading to a long, persistent finish that feels both powerful and poised. This is a Barolo built for serious cellaring, evolving over twenty to thirty years into layers of truffle, dried florals and profound tertiary complexity.

Braised beef with herbs, white truffle pasta shared slowly, or game birds roasted with care. A late night shift into something monumental, a Puccini aria followed by Mahler’s Symphony No 5, the wine unfolding in waves, complex, emotional and deeply resonant.