Elvio Cogno Cascina Nuova Barolo 2018

Today’s gorgeous Barolo courtesy of Elvio Cogno comes with scores of 92 points or more in a vintage that’s been described by Decanter as one producing, “delicious, open-knit and approachable wines due to moderate acidity and ripe tannins, as well as good complexity”. That’s a perfect way to describe this well-dialed Barolo with a silky smooth mouthfeel.

The Cognos are a fourth generation winemaking family, but it’s the current generation that has the wine world talking. A few years back, the preeminent Italian wine critic, Antonio Galloni declared, “Elvio Cogno is one of the hottest wineries in Piedmont right now. Proprietors Nadia Cogno and Valter Fissore have been on a tear of late, and show no signs whatsoever of slowing down.” That’s pretty huge praise, especially after the legend himself passed away, but it’s proven to be true.

Every year, Elvio Cogno is responsible for some of the very best Barolo examples – with both their ‘Cascina Nuova’ bottling that hits well above its modest price tag, or the Ravera Barolo which represents one of the most elegant, well-polished red wines in all of Italy.

But while the Ravera will run you three figures comfortably, the Cascina Nuova is an elegant, refined ‘baby brother’ that blows away everybody else’s entry-level offering.