Viberti Buon Padre Barolo DOCG

Description

Viberti Giovanni Buon Padre Barolo DOCG is produced by third generation winemaker, Claudio Viberti. His grandfather started producing wine in 1923 for his inn, the Locanda del Buon Padre and Buon Padre Barolo was the table wine in the restaurant. What lucky diners they were as this is a superb wine! I have both the 2019 and 2020 vintages in stock. Today Buon Padre is a blend of Nebbiolo grapes from ten different top plots in Barolo – Bricco delle Viole, San Pietro, San Ponzio, La Volta, Fossati, Albarella, Terlo, Ravera, Perno and Monvigliero. Each cru is harvested, vinified and aged separately before being blended.

The 2019 vintage in Barolo was awarded top mark of 5 stars and is referred to as a “classic” Barolo vintage. With almost optimum rainfall, sunshine and heat, the growing season was long producing complexity of aromas and flavours, ripeness but also structure and good acidity. Viberti Giovanni Buon Padre Barolo 2019 displays all these attributes and combines them into a well-balanced and very elegant wine. It has aromas and flavours of red cherries, plums and cassis with hints of violet, liquorice, herbs and spice. There is also a savoury characteristic as tertiary notes are starting to develop. The tannins are evident in the structure but well integrated and ensure the wine will age and develop further for many years.

The 2020 vintage, the ‘lockdown vintage’ was also considered to be outstanding. A summer with steady temperatures and more intermittent rain than in 2019 ensured that the tannins are softer and therefore the wine more approachable in its youth. Plenty of sunshine ensured that the cherry, plum and blackcurrant fruit flavours are juicy and balanced well with freshness and those smoother tannins. This vintage will still keep though perhaps not quite as long as the 2019.

Viberti have long been fans of using temperature-controlled stainless steel vats for fermentation to avoid over-extraction of tannins and colour. Old oak barrels are used for the required minimum two years’ barrel-ageing to ensure that the fruit flavours dominate. For a completely unoaked wine from the same producer, try Viberti Doglianico.