Not Rated (NR) – (his wines are only given tasting notes and NEVER allowed to be scored)

Drinking Window 2025 - 2033

The 2021 Barbera d'Alba Gabutti is a powerhouse. Deep, dark and quite brooding, the 2021 is seriously impressive. Black cherry, plum, menthol, licorice, chocolate, new leather and dried herbs are all amplified to the maximum in this decidedly potent, explosive Barbera from Cappellano. This is certainly not a shy wine. Many years ago Baldo Cappellano asked me not to score his wines, so all Cappellano wines show up on our database as NR.

The 2021 Cappellano Barolos are among the most impressive wines of the year. Deep, layered and wonderfully expressive, the 2021s dazzle from start to finish. As always, Rupestris is the more immediate of the wines, while the Piè Franco offers a touch more nuance and understatement. These remain some of the most translucent, classically expressive wines in Barolo. Sadly, production of the Piè Franco continues to decline, putting it on the endangered species list.