What are the best Barolo harvest years and what is the best time to enjoy this beautiful Barolo to the fullest?

Barolo wines are known for their longevity and vary in quality depending on the vintage. Here’s a look at vintages from 2000 to the present, with ratings and drinking windows based on expert and wine guide reports, including the Gambero Rosso.

2000

Rating : 3 stars - Good to very good
Characteristics : Warm year, wines with a lot of power and ripeness.
Best drinking window : 2010-2030

2001

Rating : 5 stars - Excellent
Characteristics : Classic vintage, structurally strong wines with good acidity and balance.
Best drinking window : 2012-2035

2002

Rating : 2 stars - Average
Characteristics : Difficult year due to heavy rains and hail. Less concentrated wines.
Best drinking window : 2007-2025

2003

Rating : 2 stars - Average
Characteristics : Very warm, wines with low acidity and full, ripe tannins.
Best drinking window : 2012-2028

2004

Rating : 4 stars - Very good
Features : Classic, with great finesse and elegance. Good structure and long life.
Best drinking window : 2015-2040

2005

Rating : 3 stars - Good - very good
Characteristics : More difficult year with changeable weather, but still good wines with a soft structure.
Best drinking window : 2015-2030

2006

Rating : 4 stars - Very good
Characteristics : Structure-driven wines with powerful tannins, high acidity, and great ageing potential.
Best drinking window : 2018-2040

2007

Rating : 3 stars - Good to very good
Characteristics : Warmer year, wines with softer tannins and more accessible than 2006.
Best drinking window : 2016-2035

2008

Rating : 4 stars - Very good
Characteristics : Classic year, elegant wines with fine acidity and tannins.
Best drinking window : 2018-2040

2009

Rating : 2 stars - moderate
Characteristics : Warmer year, wines with lots of ripe fruit and soft tannins.
Best drinking window : 2017-2030

2010

Rating : 5 stars - Excellent
Characteristics : Colder summer, wines with balance, elegance and ageing potential.
Best drinking window : 2020-2050

2011

Rating : 4 stars - Very good
Characteristics : Warmer year, full-bodied wines with ripe fruit and softer tannins.
Best drinking window : 2018-2035

2012

Rating : 3 stars - good to very good
Characteristics : Warmer year, but less heat than 2011. Balance between fruit and tannins.
Best Drinking Window : 2018-2032

2013

Rating : 5 stars - Excellent
Characteristics : Classic year, tight structure and acidity, great ageing potential.
Best drinking window : 2022-2050

2014

Rating : 2 stars - moderate
Characteristics : Difficult year due to wet conditions, but experienced winemakers still produced good wines.
Best drinking window : 2018-2030

2015

Rating : 4 stars - Very good
Characteristics : Warm year with lots of ripe fruit, accessible tannins, but with good ageing potential.
Best drinking window : 2022-2040

2016

Rating : 5 stars - Excellent
Characteristics : Ideal conditions, classic style, wines with great depth and elegance.
Best drinking window : 2024-2055

2017

Rating : 4 stars - Very good
Characteristics : Warm and dry year, resulting in more powerful wines with slightly less acidity.
Best drinking window : 2022-2038

2018

Rating : 3 stars - Good to very good
Characteristics : Changeable weather, resulting in wines with less concentration but still pleasant.
Best drinking window : 2023-2035

2019

Rating : 5 stars - Excellent
Characteristics : Classic vintage with perfect maturing conditions, wines with great depth and elegance.
Best drinking window : 2026-2055

2020

Rating : 4 stars - Very good
Characteristics : Warmer year, slightly more accessible wines but with good balance.
Best drinking window : 2025-2040

2021

Rating : 5 stars - Very good
Features : Cooler, more classic style, similar to 2016.
Best drinking window : 2028-2050

Summary

The Barolo DOCG produces fantastic wines. The most beautiful harvest years are from 2000 onwards the 5 star harvest years, such as 2001, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2021. But also the 4 star Barolos from the years 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2020 are fantastically beautiful wines, which you can fully enjoy. In the lesser, more challenging harvest years you can still find fantastically beautiful Barolos, but then the advice is to select more on the "excellent, top winemakers". They are also able to make absolute top wines in lesser years.

Our drinking advice is further. Decant the wine, or even better, open the bottle at least 4 to 8 hours before use. Pour a little bit so that the wine moves and there is a bit more space available in the bottle. And above all, do not drink the wine at room temperature, which is often too warm. The best drinking temperature is 16C to 18C.

Salute!