#7 on Hi-Time's Top Italian Wines of 2025
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 dark-toned red fruits, citrus zest, flowers, baking spices, cedar and tobacco. Its firm, vibrant mouthfeel calls out for moderately rich dishes like risottos and lamb- or pork chops with rosemary and citrus. 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."
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 dark-toned red fruits, citrus zest, flowers, baking spices, cedar and tobacco. Its firm, vibrant mouthfeel calls out for moderately rich dishes like risottos and lamb- or pork chops with rosemary and citrus. 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."
