Great wine Buys: 2013 Barolo

As store shelves ease from 2011 and 2012 Barolo into 2013, Italian wine lovers can get excited. Although the 2013 vintage posed difficult growing conditions, the ultimate word is that it has yielded an excellent vintage.

Via Vinous, the 2013 vintage is characterized by “silky tannins” and “striking aromatics”. The 2013 season started off with an excess of rain, forcing producers to scramble to treat their vines. However, the weather soon transitioned into a warm, mild growing season with cool nights, allowing the tannins to properly ripen.

On the palate, consumers can expect the elegance of the 2008 vintage, with more depth. Compared to the 2011 and 2012 vintages, 2013 Barolo will be more balanced, with a lower acid level, making the wine more approachable even with less age.