Virna Noi - 2021

I first introduced this wine to you with the 2016 vintage, and since then it has become one of our most requested Italian wines, for good reason. It’s hard to find an under-$50 Barolo that delivers this kind of quality.

A client contacted me the other day about ordering more of the 2021 Barolo; they couldn’t stop raving about it. I told them I was unfortunately sold out of the 2021 but would check on when the 2022 might be available. Long story short, my supplier said, “The 2022 is a couple of months away, but inventory shows 72 bottles of the 2021 in the New York warehouse. Let me see if they’re actually available.” I’m happy to say those bottles arrived today, and as any good merchant would, I had to open one to refresh my memory.

As soon as I poured the first glass, the aromatics soared: rose petals, violets, red cherries and crushed stone, with hints of licorice and anise. It was hard to imagine that a wine that I would describe as ight to medium in color could offer such a kaleidoscope of flavors. I looked back at my email from December 2025 (the last time I had this for sale), where I called it a Burgundy lover’s Barolo, and that is exactly what it is!

It’s approachable now because it is so well balanced, but given the quality of the underlying material and the structure of this vintage, the smart buyer will want to tuck a few bottles away for the next several years to watch it truly blossom. This wine offers the quality I find in far more expensive Barolo. At under $50, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything with more pedigree, length and intensity. Grab some before it sells out again!