Starting in the 1970s, Domenico was one of the key visionaries who brought his own modern take on the classic Barolo style: a sense of greater precision, aromatic clarity, and polished textures from aging a bit in non-traditional, small French oak barrels. His estate's calling card Barolo is crafted from lots that feel most ready to drink, and even tossing out those in which the oak appears too strongly! Coming from the Monforte region's famous vineyard districts of Ginestra, Mosconi and Bussia, this is a "village" wine in analogy with Burgundy's tiers of wine from region down to vineyard plots.
This edition comes from the lauded 2021 vintage, which has led to a bit more concentration and intensity while remaining charmingly streamlined and balanced. It has a profile reminiscent of ripe red fruits, citrus zest, flowers, baking spices, and hints of cedar and tobacco. Clerico's sourcing put the style of their Monforte Barolo toward the Serralunga end of the style spectrum, with a lean, sleek fruit texture and firm, vibrant mouthfeel of fine,-grained electric tannins, all of which calls out for moderately rich dishes like risottos and lamb- or pork chops with rosemary and citrus. Give it a couple hours in the decanter to loosen up, and serve around 62F. Practices organic farming.
WINE ADVOCATE 94 POINTS - "The team at Domenico Clerico has done a terrific job with the 2021 Barolo del Comune di Monforte d'Alba. In terms of aromas, it offers comparable intensity, balance and elegance to the other wines at the higher end of the portfolio. The bouquet is beautiful. The difference is that this wine has more approachable tannic grip that is silky and soft and without the nervous quality found in the more expensive wines. This wine is better suited for medium or even near-term drinking. Production is 30,000 bottles and 400 magnums."
This edition comes from the lauded 2021 vintage, which has led to a bit more concentration and intensity while remaining charmingly streamlined and balanced. It has a profile reminiscent of ripe red fruits, citrus zest, flowers, baking spices, and hints of cedar and tobacco. Clerico's sourcing put the style of their Monforte Barolo toward the Serralunga end of the style spectrum, with a lean, sleek fruit texture and firm, vibrant mouthfeel of fine,-grained electric tannins, all of which calls out for moderately rich dishes like risottos and lamb- or pork chops with rosemary and citrus. Give it a couple hours in the decanter to loosen up, and serve around 62F. Practices organic farming.
WINE ADVOCATE 94 POINTS - "The team at Domenico Clerico has done a terrific job with the 2021 Barolo del Comune di Monforte d'Alba. In terms of aromas, it offers comparable intensity, balance and elegance to the other wines at the higher end of the portfolio. The bouquet is beautiful. The difference is that this wine has more approachable tannic grip that is silky and soft and without the nervous quality found in the more expensive wines. This wine is better suited for medium or even near-term drinking. Production is 30,000 bottles and 400 magnums."
