Barolo Terlo Vigna Costa Grimaldi

With fruit from old, southeast-facing vines, the Poderi Luigi Einaudi 2017 Barolo Terlo Vigna Costa Grimaldi shows very nicely in this hot vintage. The positioning of the vines and the age of the deeply furrowed roots surely play a big role toward achieving the balance and pretty intensity offered here. The wine is streamlined and tight, with no loose ends, held firmly together by fresh Nebbiolo acidity and well-managed tannins. There is a lot of power built up in this Terlo fruit, but the wine also reveals austerity and sharp lines. This wine is more about structure than it is fruit, and with an ample 11,266 bottles made, you can put a few of those aside for extra cellar aging.

Subtle and refined with dried strawberries, flowers, cream and cedar. Medium body. Fine, creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. The tannins melt into the wine nicely. Drink in 2024.

“There are wines that just surprise you with how good they are. That’s exactly the case with the Luigi Einaudi 2017 Barolo Terlo Vigna Costa Grimaldi, one of the best Barolos I have tasted from that very difficult (too hot, too dry) 2017 vintage. You approach the wine fearing overripe aromas and flavours, jammy notes, and even gritty tannins, and none of that is true. Rather this is an absolutely beautiful example of Nebbiolo that is gorgeous in its translucency, beginning with the pale red colour, intense aromas of red rose, cinnamon, minerals, violet, and plenty of sour red cherry, with extremely pure, penetrating flavours that echo the aromas. Light on its feet yet very concentrated and characterized by a steely backbone, the finish lasts minutes. Made from the Costa Grimaldi vineyard planted back in 1977 in the Terlo MGA, facing southeast and planted at about 310 meters above sea level, the wine was fermented in both stainless steel and concrete tanks. This is an exceptionally impressive showing by Einaudi in 2017. Very, very well done. Drinking window: 2025-2038.”

The smooth texture and steeped cherry and plum flavors bode well for this red, as eucalyptus, hay, tobacco and iron elements add depth. Firm, with ample fruit, a well-integrated structure and lingering finish. Best from 2024 through 2043.

The 2017 Barolo Terlo Vigna Costa Grimaldi is a very pretty wine that shows how appealing the vintage is. Pliant and silky, with lifted floral accents, the Terlo is beautifully balanced and inviting from the very first taste. Sweet red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal, lavender, spice and mint wrap around the palate as the 2017 shows off its considerable charms.

Vigna Costa Grimaldi lies within the Terlo MGA at the southern boundary of the Barolo commune, bordering Novello. The 2017 Barolo Terlo Vigna Costa Grimaldi leads with anise aromas, dried porcini, and red currant. There is freshness within the core of ripe fruit and ripe, angular tannins, noted by burnt orange peel, dried cherry, and tea leaf. Drink 2024-2038.