Barolo 2021: The Definitive Report

The 2021 Barolos are just rolling out. Here’s everything you need to know about the vintage and the wines.

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A word about how I reviewed the 2021 Barolos

Living only a few hours from the Langhe, I travel there about 7-8 times a year, and started tasting the 2021 Barolos in September and on subsequent trips in November and December of 2024. It’s important to note that I only review wines that are already bottled: I never formally review barrel samples, something I think is crucial for a wine critic. I love to try wines from the barrels but only as an indication of the vintage or how the wine is evolving, but never for review. Many producers agree with me, and a few have confided that in the past, wine critics have given their barrel samples glowing reviews a year or more before release but in the end, the producers decided not to release the wines in question as they weren’t up to their high standards, proving again the importance of reviewing only bottled wines.

I never formally review barrel samples, something I think is crucial for a wine critic.

The bulk of the 2021 Barolos were tasted and reviewed in my office in January and February, and they are still flowing in. I respect producers who send the wines when they feel they are ready, and when it comes to age-worthy wines like Barolo, Barbaresco and Brunello, I wish more producers took this approach instead of bending under pressure to appease wine critics that in their frenetic quest to be the first to publish scores, risk rating wines when they aren’t ready for review, even for seasoned palates.

To check out the reviews click on Italian Wine Reviews and input Barolo 2021 in the search box (subscription required). Stay tuned and keep checking it as it is constantly being updated with new reviews.

For articles on other vintages click here: Barolo vintage report

Kerin O’Keefe March 2025 ©kerinokeefe.com

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