Arnaldo Rivera 2017 Undicicomuni Barolo 750ml

This wine takes the record for the most complicated blend made with the largest number of vineyard sites. The Arnaldo Rivera 2016 Barolo Undicicomuni draws its fruit from 10 vineyards spanning the appellation, and I know of no other winery that has attempted such an ambitious assembly of Nebbiolo. For the record, the blend (starting in 2013 until the 2017 vintage) is Serralunga d'Alba (San Rocco); Castiglione Falletto (Codana, Piantà and Villero); Diano d'Alba (two sites in Sorano); La Morra (Boiolo and two sites in Rocche dell'Annunziata); and Verduno (Campasso). From the 2018 vintage onward, the blend is made from a whopping 21 parcels. The watercolor design on the label depicts the shape of these vineyard sites. This super blend showcases the depth and the tannic firmness of the grape with bold fruit aromas backed by tar, licorice and earthy truffle. I'd dedicate a few more years of cellar aging in order to soften those tannins.

Score: 92 points -- Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate, 2020