Barolo DOCG 2022 Sordo Giovanni – classic Barolo with elegance and character
Barolo 2022 by Giovanni Sordo: great value Barolo
The Barolo DOCG 2022 by Giovanni Sordois a beautiful example of traditional Barolo: made from 100% Nebbiolo, sourced from various renowned municipalities within the Barolo DOCG and aged for an extended period in large Slavonian oak barrels.
The warm and dry 2022 vintage has produced a Barolo that is already relatively enticing and accessible. Expect aromas of red cherries, raspberries, dried roses, and violets, complemented by herbs, liquorice, and subtle earthy notes. On the palate, it is dry and elegant, with fresh acidity, ripe Nebbiolo tannins, and a long, spicy finish.
A truly classic Barolo, but without the need to wait ten years before opening the bottle. This is precisely why this Sordo Barolo 2022offers a particularly attractive introduction to traditional Barolo.
Giovanni Sordo – four generations of Barolo
The Sordo winery is located in Castiglione Falletto, in the heart of the Barolo region. Giuseppe Sordo began cultivating grapes and making wine here in 1912. From the 1950s, his son Giovanni Sordo significantly expanded the estate by purchasing vineyards on several of Barolo's best slopes.
Today, the family owns approximately 53 hectares of vineyards, spread across Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba, Monforte d'Alba, Barolo, Novello, La Morra, Verduno, and Grinzane Cavour, among others. The winery is now managed by the third and fourth generations, Giorgio and Paola Sordo.
Sordo is particularly known for its exceptionally large collection of Barolo vineyards. In addition to this classic Barolo, the estate produces no fewer than eight separate Barolo MGAs, including Rocche di Castiglione, Villero, Monprivato, Gabutti, Perno, Monvigliero, Parussi, and Ravera.
Which vineyards does the Sordo Barolo DOCG come from?
For the regular Barolo DOCG, Sordo uses Nebbiolo from various owned vineyards in:
- Castiglione Falletto
- Serralunga d'Alba
- Monforte d'Alba
- Barolo
- Novello
- La Morra
- Verduno
- Grinzane Cavour
This is interesting because the wine does not represent the character of just a single cru or municipality. The different terroirs complement each other.
The softer, aromatic aspects of, for example, La Morra and Barolo can be combined with the structure and power of grapes from Serralunga d'Alba and Castiglione Falletto, among others. This results in a balanced, classic Barolo where fruit, freshness, tannin, and structure complement each other.
Location, soil, and vines
The vineyards are located at approximately 300 to 400 meters above sea leveland primarily have a southern to southwestern exposure. This ensures plenty of sun for the Nebbiolo grapes, while the altitude helps maintain sufficient freshness and temperature variation between day and night.
The soil consists of compact, deep blue-grey calcareous marl, rich in minerals and trace elements. This type of limestone and marl-rich soil plays an important role in the character of Barolo and contributes to the combination of minerality, structure, and fine tannins.
Sordo traditionally uses Guyot pruning.
Planting density:approximately 4,000 vines per hectareAge of vines:approximately 10 to 40 yearsYield:about 68–72 quintals of grapes per hectare, or about 6.8–7.2 tons per hectare.
2022 Vintage in Barolo
2022 was an unusually warm and, above all, very dry yearin Piedmont. The vines experienced prolonged drought and high temperatures throughout the growing season. As a result, the grapes remained relatively small, and yields were lower than normal for many producers.
Ripening proceeded quickly, and the Nebbiolo harvest began considerably earlier than usual in parts of Barolo. Most Nebbiolo was picked in the second half of September to early October 2022.
Despite the difficult conditions, 2022 ultimately produced surprisingly good Barolos. Characteristic features include riper red fruit, a somewhat rounder structure, and tannins that, from the better producers, are beautifully balanced with Nebbiolo's natural acidity.
Interestingly, it was precisely the classic blends that often performed exceptionally well in 2022. Giovanni Sordo released fewer individual MGA wines in this vintage, which meant that rigorously selected grapes also became available for the regular Barolo.
Decanter included the Giovanni Sordo Barolo 2022 in its selection of the best value-for-money Barolos of the vintage.
How does the Giovanni Sordo Barolo 2022 taste?
In the glass, the wine has the characteristic garnet-red color of Nebbiolo.
On the nose, red cherries, raspberries, and dried flowersinitially dominate. With aeration, notes of roses, violets, dried herbs, liquorice, and spices develop. As the wine sits longer in the glass, earthy and slightly balsamic notes may also appear.
On the palate, the wine is dry and structured, yet remarkably accessible for a young Barolo. The ripe red fruit is supported by lively acidity and the recognizable tannins of Nebbiolo. The warm conditions of 2022 lend the wine a bit more roundness, while Sordo's traditional vinification ensures that the wine retains its classic Barolo character.
The finish is long and dry, with red fruit, spices, a slight minerality, and fine tannins.
Traditional vinification and aging
Sordo is emphatically one of Barolo's traditional producers.
After harvest, the Nebbiolo grapes are destemmed and crushed. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
This is followed by a long maceration period. Sordo applies the traditional method of cappello sommerso, or submerged cap. The skins remain in contact with the wine for an extended period, with the exact duration depending on the vintage.
After vinification, according to the winery, it undergoes:
6 months of aging in stainless steel, followed by24 months of aging in large Slavonian oak barrels.
These large, neutral wooden barrels are important for Sordo's style. The goal is not to make the wine taste of vanilla or new oak, but to allow the Nebbiolo to develop slowly while preserving as much of the fruit and terroir as possible.
Drink now or age?
The 2022 Barolo, due to the warm vintage, is relatively accessible, but it remains a young Barolo.
Those who enjoy powerful, youthful Nebbiolo can drink it now. In that case, preferably decant the wine for one to two hoursand serve it not too warm.
Those seeking more tertiary aromas – such as dried roses, tobacco, leather, forest floor, and truffle – can easily store it in the cellar for several more years.
We find a serving temperature of approximately 17–18°Cideal. This keeps the red fruit nicely fresh and brings out the finesse of Nebbiolo better than when Barolo is served at normal room temperature.
What dishes pair well with Sordo Barolo 2022?
Barolo and food make a fantastic combination, especially with dishes that have sufficient flavor and structure.
This Sordo Barolo 2022 pairs excellently with:
- slow-roasted beef
- entrecôte or ribeye
- game such as venison and deer
- osso buco
- beef stews
- mushroom risotto
- pasta with porcini mushrooms
- truffle dishes
- aged Parmesan cheese
- aged hard Italian cheeses
The combination of fresh acidity and tannins makes Barolo ideally suited for dishes with meat, fat, mushrooms, and powerful savoury flavours. Sordo itself specifically recommends the wine with roasts and game.
Why choose Sordo Giovanni Barolo DOCG 2022?
The Giovanni Sordo Barolo DOCG 2022combines several characteristics that make this wine particularly attractive: grapes from several important Barolo municipalities, traditional vinification, long aging in large Slavonian oak barrels, and the experience of a family that has been producing Barolo for four generations.
Additionally, 2022 has produced a Barolo that offers pleasure relatively early. Not a heavy or ponderous wine, but a classic Nebbiolo with red fruit, flowers, fresh acidity, and recognizable yet beautifully integrated tannins.
An excellent choice for those who want to get acquainted with traditional Barolo and for the experienced Barolo lover looking for a good classic Barolo at an attractive price.
