Piazzo Barolo "Sottocastello di Novello" Riserva 2016 – Piedmont, Italy

From the historic cru Sottocastello di Novello, located at an altitude of about 450 meters below the old castle of Novello, comes this exceptional Barolo Riserva from the Piazzo family. The field spreads over a small 1.9 hectares with southeast-facing slopes, where the Nebbiolo vines, which are 15–20 years old, are densely planted with about 5,000 vines per hectare.

The soil in this part of Novello is rich in calcareous marl and sandstone – characterised by the classic layers of grey-white marl and Diano d'Alba sandstone – which gives the wines a special minerality and structural resilience. The alkaline pH and well-drained, clay-heavy soil create optimal conditions for slow ripening and aromatic complexity in the grapes.

The wine is created with deep respect for both terroir and tradition. The grapes are hand-harvested in October and undergo long maceration (up to 30 days) under controlled temperature. This is followed by careful maturation in large, neutral barrels for 24 months, followed by further bottle aging – all without filtration to preserve as much authenticity and texture as possible. The result is a wine with great depth and layers of character: aromas of dried cherries, roses, licorice and tobacco, backed by ripe tannins and a firm acidity.

Behind the wine is Piazzo Comm. Armando, a family-run winery founded in the 1960s in San Rocco Seno d'Elvio near Alba. Today, the third generation – Marina Piazzo, her husband Franco, and their sons Simone and Marco – is at the helm. The family's approach is characterized by sustainability and ecological awareness: they use their own compost, mechanical weed control and natural methods of pest control. All to produce wines that express origin and balance rather than technical manipulation.

The 2016 vintage is widely recognized as one of the most classic and harmonious in recent Barolo history, and this riserva is clear testimony to that: structured, precise and deeply worthy of aging – but already open to the patient enjoyer.