Barolo 2019 — why this vintage is worth the hype

Barolo 2019 — waarom deze jaargang de hype waard is

Many wine journalists, critics, and producers consider Barolo 2019 to be one of the great classics of the last ten years. It's a "five-star vintage": wines with both power and finesse, with aging potential well beyond 2040, but also already exhibiting striking aromatic charm.

In fact, more and more experts are comparing 2019 with legendary years like 2016 and 2010. They speak of a perfect balance between ripe tannins, fresh acidity and pure Nebbiolo expression. Antonio Galloni described Barolo 2019 as "a great vintage... powerful, tight and layered", and possibly the beginning of a new series of top years.

And that's exactly why this is a vintage you want to buy now — especially as long as there's still stock available from reputable producers at normal prices.

In this article you will read:

  • what made the 2019 growing season so special;

  • what Barolo 2019 tastes like;

  • when is the best time to drink it;

  • which Barolo 2019 bottles we have in stock at Brunolo.nl (including specific scores, style and aging potential).

1. What happened in the vineyard in 2019?

The 2019 vintage in Barolo (Piedmont) began mildly, followed by a cool and rainy spring. This resulted in slow growth, preventing the vines from experiencing stress. The summer was warm, but without excessive heat waves: just enough sun and warmth for full phenolic ripeness, and occasional rain to keep the grapes healthy. Late summer and early autumn were largely dry and sunny, with warm days and cool nights – ideal for the late-ripening Nebbiolo.

Important detail: 2019 was a long, calm and relatively late harvest year. Flowering started later, ripening proceeded slowly and evenly, and the harvest shifted towards the end of October – something producers describe as a "classic Barolo". This longer growing season resulted in grapes with thick skins, perfect phenolic ripeness, high aromatic concentration, and simultaneously remarkably fresh acidity. Some compare the structure of the wines to 2013 (tight, fresh, refined) but with the depth and structure of 2016.

The yields were not excessively high, and the grapes arrived in the cellar clean and healthy: little rot, little loss due to selection. That means pure material for long-lived Barolo.

In short: 2019 provided Barolo producers with luxury raw materials — fully ripe fruit, firm yet ripe tannins, high aromatic intensity, and sufficient acidity for freshness.

2. What does Barolo 2019 taste like?

When you have Barolo 2019 in your glass, pay attention to three things.

Aroma & nose
You can smell a lot of red fruit (cherry, raspberry), sometimes also black cherry and plum, floral notes of rose and violets, and underneath the typical Barolo signature of tar, licorice, herbs, earth and a hint of tobacco or leather.

Texture in the mouth
The 2019 Barolo is powerful, but not heavy. The tannins are firm and true to Nebbiolo, but remarkably ripe and polished. The acidity is lively, providing tension and length. So you don't get a heavy, alcoholic clunker, but a wine with both backbone and elegance.

Balance (strength vs. finesse)
Many 2019s combine depth and concentration with refinement. This is precisely why critics call it a "classic" Barolo style, despite the warmer climate of recent years. You taste ripeness and intensity, but also freshness and detail in the bouquet – something that lovers of Barolo seek.

Result: 2019 Barolo is already seductive in aroma, but on the palate you immediately feel that the wine is built to last for decades.

3. Drinking window & shelf life

For most 2019 Barolos, experts recommend drinking them from around 2025/2026 well into the 2040s, depending on the wine and the cru.

  • "Basic" Barolos (blends from multiple plots or villages) often show a lot of pleasure from 2026 onwards, with sufficient fruit and already rounded tannins. Examples include Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2019 and Giovanni Rosso Barolo Serralunga d'Alba 2019, which already give a tremendous aroma but whose structure only becomes truly perfect after a few years of bottle aging.

  • Serious cru wines from top locations such as Ginestra (Monforte d'Alba) or Arborina (La Morra) have a storage potential until 2045 and beyond. Some top wines, such as Elio Grasso Ginestra Casa Maté 2019, are even estimated to have an optimal drinking phase from 2028-2055.

In other words: feel free to buy Barolo 2019 as a cellar wine for later. This is not a fleeting hype, this is an investment in pleasure.

4. Why you should buy Barolo 2019 now

4.1 It's a five-star year

Within Piedmont, 2019 is unanimously described as a top year: classic in style, with enormous elegance, complexity and aging potential.

4.2 Power without sluggishness

In a time when warm vintages sometimes yield Barolo that is overly ripe and alcoholic, 2019 is just right: ripe fruit, but also pure acidity and tension. This makes the wines both gastronomically interesting and worthy of collecting.

4.3 Value for money is exceptional

The biggest surprise of 2019 is that not only are the cult names amazing, but also the entry-level Barolos from top estates are brilliant. Critics explicitly advise buying broadly in 2019, because there is a lot of good Barolo available, even from producers who haven't been completely bought out by collectors yet.

Specifically, this means: you can buy Barolo 2019 today from reputable wineries with serious review scores for under €50–€70 per bottle.

5. Our favorite Barolo 2019 (still in stock at Brunolo.nl)

Below is a selection of bottles that we actually have in stock. All prices are the regular webshop prices listed on the product pages. Availability: "in stock" according to our shop on October 27, 2025.

Tip for connoisseurs: Amici Grandi Vini members receive a standard 15% discount, free shipping, and access to rare Barolos.

5.1 Renzo Seghesio – Barolo DOCG Monforte d'Alba 2019

  • Price: Now available for less than 40,-

  • Scores: 92/100 Robert Parker, 92/100 James Suckling.

  • Appearance in the glass: deep ruby/garnet, dark ripe cherry, dried herbs (sage), licorice and a hint of leather. On the palate, elegant and well-balanced, with juicy acidity and velvety tannins in the finish.

  • Drinking window: 2026–2036.

  • Why is it interesting?
    This is textbook "best value Barolo 2019": pure Monforte-d'Alba signature (structure, depth) for less than forty euros.

5.2 Ciabot Berton - La Morra - Cru Roggeri 2019

  • Price: Now available for less than 50.

  • Awards: including 2 red glasses (excellent) from Gambero Rosso and the Italian Sommeliers (Bibenda)

  • Taste profile: Elegant, harmonious, powerful, with a pleasantly fresh and long-lasting finish featuring well-structured tannins.

  • Drinking window: 2026–2040.

Why is it interesting?
La Morra Barolos are often praised for their elegance, finesse, balance, and lighter structure, making them popular with lovers of more refined wines. This Cru Roggeri is powerful and harmonious on the palate with a dense and complex tannin structure. Pleasantly fresh and savory, the wine has a long-lasting finish.

5.3 Vietti – Barolo DOCG “Castiglione” 2019 (Castiglione Falletto)

  • Now available for around €70.

  • Scores: 95/100 Robert Parker, 94/100 James Suckling.

  • Taste profile: cherries (red and black), plum, rose petals, tobacco, leather and a hint of alpine herbs. The wine is rich and powerful, but with beautifully integrated tannins.

  • Terroir: The grapes come from ~20 top vineyards spread across several villages in the Barolo zone. This wine therefore beautifully showcases the quality of the entire 2019 vintage, not just a single specific cru.

  • Drinking window: 2026–2040.

Why is it interesting?
This is the quintessential "house Barolo" of an absolute top name (Vietti), with Grand Cru ambition but without the Grand Cru price tag. Critics call it a textbook example of the power of 2019.

5.4 Elio Altare – Barolo DOCG La Morra 2019

  • Still available now for a price of around 85,-

  • Scores: 94+/100 Robert Parker, 93/100 James Suckling, plus high ratings in Italian guides.

  • Taste profile: bright ruby red with garnet edges; on the nose, red fruit (strawberry, raspberry), violets, balsamic notes and a hint of pepper. On the palate, warm, elegant, with seductive acidity, round tannins and a long, silky finish.

  • Drinking window: 2025–2040.

Why is it interesting?
Elio Altare (now led by daughter Silvia) is known for Barolo with finesse, precision, and terroir expression. They explicitly call 2019 a "classic" year that was easy to vinify and yielded rich, powerful wines.

5.5 Elio Grasso – Barolo DOCG Ginestra “Casa Maté” 2019 (Monforte d'Alba)

  • Now available for a price of less than 100,-

  • Scores: 97+/100 Parker, top-class rating (mid/high 90s) from international tasters.

  • Taste profile: darker fruits (black cherry, blackberry), violets, licorice, cocoa, spiciness, earthiness, and a cool, almost eucalyptus-like freshness. In the mouth: full, creamy, intense, with enormous length and firm, noble tannins.

  • Terroir: Casa Maté is located on the Ginestra hill in Monforte d'Alba, at an altitude of 300–350 meters, in calcareous clay and sandstone. This terroir produces Barolo with serious structure and enormous aging potential.

  • Drinking window: 2028–2055 (!).

Why is this Barolo from Elio Grasso interesting?
This *is* high-end Barolo 2019. This kind of cru wine shows why collectors say that 2019 is a vintage that "defines your cellar".

6. Frequently Asked Questions about Barolo 2019

Is Barolo 2019 already drinkable?

Technically: yes, you can open many wines to appreciate the aroma and taste the energy. But most bottles will only truly taste delicious (without decanting) from around 2026 onwards, when the tannins have softened slightly. Cru wines from powerful villages like Monforte and Serralunga especially need air and time.

How long can I store Barolo 2019?

Realistically, 15–20 years is the aging potential for good "classico" wines, so roughly until 2040+. Top-quality wines like Casa Maté (Ginestra) from Elio Grasso have a horizon that comfortably extends beyond 2050.

Is Barolo 2019 better than 2016?

2016 is often cited as a modern benchmark: pure, precise, cool, and classic. 2019 is very close to that, but sometimes shows just a little more power and density, with comparable freshness and structure. Several tasters call 2019 a continuation of 2016 and even see 2019 as the start of a new series of top years (2019–2021).

7. Conclusion: 2019 is not a hype, it's an opportunity.

  • Barolo 2019 is a "classic" vintage with modern precision.

  • The combination of ripe fruit, vibrant acidity and refined tannins provides both early charm and enormous longevity.

  • The price-quality ratio is still remarkably good, especially outside of the absolute cult icons.

  • And yes: you can still order top names from 2019 at Brunolo.nl — from a super accessible Monforte d'Alba Barolo for €38.95 to an almost mythical Ginestra Casa Maté with 97+/100.

Do you want to buy Barolo 2019?
View our full selection of Barolo 2019. Buy a few now and put some bottles away. In ten, fifteen, twenty years, you'll be glad you did it today.