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2021 Vietti - The peak of Castiglione Falletto

by Hugh French | Sep 05, 2025

Vietti's history stretches back to the late 1800s, when the winery was established in the heart of the Langhe, at the highest point of the medieval village of Castiglione Falletto. Since that time, and until 2023, the Vietti family gradually acquired vineyards across the Langhe, dedicating their lives to producing exceptional Piedmontese wines.

In 2016, Luca Currado-Vietti and his wife, Elena Penna, sold their family estate to the Krause family. However, Luca remained as the winemaker, ensuring the continuity of the high quality that the winery is known for. As 2023 approached, the Currado-Vietti family's era at Vietti came to an end, and they embarked on new endeavours.

While this period may signify a time of uncertainty for Vietti, it's important to note that the winery is still in capable hands. Eugenio Palumbo, who has worked as the production manager alongside Luca for 22 years, has stepped in as the new winemaker.

This also marks a time of significant growth for Vietti, as the Krause family continues to acquire additional vineyards across the Langhe, which will enable them to offer more single-vineyard wines of the highest quality.

The situation at Vietti is both dramatic and exciting, but concerns about a decline in quality here can be safely set aside. Antonio Galloni's perspective on this transition is particularly insightful: "...my impression is that these turning points will ultimately benefit all parties involved. The Cordero side of the family is pursuing new ventures, while the Currados no longer feel pressured to make wine in a style dictated by market demands. This change allows Palumbo the freedom to lead Vietti into a new era, where I believe the wines will be even more refined than before. I left this tasting feeling extremely invigorated."

In our previous offers of Piedmontese wines here at MW, we have emphasised the exceptional quality of the 2021 vintage in the region. This is particularly true for Barolo, where the quality remains extraordinarily high. Those who appreciate the distinct nuances between various crus and villages will find great rewards, as these wines clearly express their origins. However, it’s worth noting that the overall quantity is somewhat lower this year, and our allocation is very limited. Don’t miss out on these outstanding selections.

2021 Barolo DOCG

Usually $155

Now $145

Also Available in 375ml Half-Bottles

(Usually $85, Now $77)

94 Points

"This bottle marks the end of an era, and all you Barolo Castiglione fans out there are in for some very bad news. The name "Castiglione" is being taking off the bottle, and what we have instead is the Vietti 2021 Barolo. In truth, the name "Castiglione" does appear in very small, small letters at the bottom of the label for old time's sake, but during my discussion during this tasting, I agreed to remove it from the wine's official name in our database. I'm told it will definitely be gone by the next release. Apparently, the estate was on the wrong end of a copyright issue, so it had to go. Winemaking has not changed, and the wine remains a blend of 20-plus MGA sites. There is no particular set formula. The parcels are fermented separately and a final blending decision is made further down the road. You still get the same phenomenal value. This wine offers firm structure, plummy dark fruit flavors and elegantly chalky tannins. The finish is a little dry, and that ending gives the wine a near-term personality."

Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

2021 Barbaresco 'Roncaglie' DOCG

Usually $335

Now $319

96 Points

"Past vintages of this wine were called Roncaglie Masseria, but the word Masseria has been removed. The Vietti 2021 Barbaresco Roncaglie draws its fruit from inclined vineyards that produce fruit with finesse and elegance. This pretty wine opens to a note of fragrant flower or heritage rose that accompanies you over a long, silky close. In a good vintage like 2021, vintners could push skin macerations a little longer. This wine saw 25 days on the skins compared to 22 days in the 2022 vintage. Vietti recently purchased land in Rabajà, a site that produces profound wines, and this plot in Roncaglie has a greater presence of sand in its soils, creating more floral and delicate expressions instead."

Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

2021 Barolo 'Brunate' DOCG

Usually $540

Now $510

97+ Points

"Brunate is also one of my favorite wines from Vietti (and, boy, is it hard to choose favorites) thanks to that playful hint of fresh mint that I usually find, especially in the best vintages. You certainly get it in the 2021 Barolo Brunate, and although I'm not sure how long it will last as the wine evolves, my experience suggests it only gets stronger and more beautiful in time. Indeed, this vintage (with 23 days of skin maceration) shows exceptional depth and precision with aromas that go beyond the mint, spanning instead to grilled rosemary and Darjeeling tea. The wine shows excellent textural support and broad shoulders, followed by tannins that are both sweet and chalky. It shows profound generosity and depth. Brunate always has an intense, dark soul."

Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

2021 Barolo 'Cerequio' DOCG

Usually $540

Now $510

97 Points

"The 2021 Barolo Cerequio marries elegance and power in the way only Nebbiolo can. Bright acids and strong floral inflections run through this mid-weight yet dense, layered wine. All the elements are deftly woven together. This nuanced, finely sketched Barolo has always been compelling, as it is again today."

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com

2021 Barolo 'Lazzarito' DOCG

Usually $540

Now $510

97 Points

"Fruit for this wine comes from a three-hectare parcel in Serralunga d'Alba near the village, with south and southwestern exposures in a small amphitheater. The soils in this area are older and thus more evolved, but they always create wines of strong character. The Vietti 2021 Barolo Lazzarito is easy to identify thanks to its salty mineral finish, which is almost metallic in taste, and its bright hints of sweet rosemary and wild herb. These delicate high notes form pretty framing to a dark core of elegant fruit. The estate counts five vineyards in Serralunga d'Alba, but Lazzarito is the only MGA bottling."

Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

2021 Barolo 'Monvigliero' DOCG

Usually $540

Now $510

97 Points

"This is the baby in the bunch, representing one of the newest additions to the Vietti portfolio, with the first vintage produced in 2018. The learning curve in Monvigliero is always steep, or so most winemakers tell me, because very few can go to 100% whole-cluster fermentation. Indeed, the 2021 Barolo Monvigliero sees 60% whole clusters. The Vietti team is experienced, and this wine is pristine. This vintage was harvested on September 30th, and maceration was a bit shorter, at 20 days. The wine shows a delicate film of pink salt with garden herbs, lemon leaves and spring flowers. It is a wine of extreme elegance, but I find that this vintage is especially Mediterranean in character."

Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

2021 Barolo 'Rocche di Castiglione' DOCG

Usually $540

Now $510

98+ Points

"This is a serious beauty that reminds us of the brilliant work underway at this leading estate. Yes, ownership has changed over recent years, but this wine remains "Rocche-solid." From an epic vintage, the Vietti 2021 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a classic with those elegant mineral notes of glacial till and flake salt followed by carefully ripened fruit, blackcurrant and a finely tuned floral note of fragrant tea leaf that hits the high notes. The effect is ethereal but also precise. Fruit comes from two parcels, one planted in 1958 and the other in 1969, and the blend is half of each fermented together. Fruit was picked on October 1st, and the wine saw 24 days on the skins. The first year this wine was produced is 1961. The Rocche di Castiglione site has 35% sand with marl soils that continue to evolve, kicking out more new sand. Only 3,728 bottles exist, and that's the bad news."

Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

2021 Barolo 'Ravera' DOCG

Usually $540

Now $510

98+ Points

"You could argue that this is the wine with the fasting growing quality trajectory because this vineyard site is one of those rare places in the appellation that appears to improve despite (or more likely because of) a changing climate. Ravera enjoys an open panorama (at 400 to 440 meters in elevation) that extends to the snow-capped Alps and benefits from cooler air currents, coupled with an amazing quality of light that you notice with the naked eye. The 2021 Barolo Ravera saw its fruit harvested later than the other wines, on October 11th, and continued with a classic Vietti-style fermentation with 20-plus days of skin contact. Simply put, what Ravera offers is complexity (and strength) with hints of bergamot, citrus, herbs, mineral and salt over a tightly concentrated mouthfeel. The quality of the tannins and the freshness of this 2021 are impressive, and that citrusy note continues with tangerine skin and kumquat. "

Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate