Ceretto - Barolo Prapo 2015
Ceretto Description
Moving from Baudana towards the centre of Serralunga d’Alba, you may happen to turn your gaze to the east, and it is on this slope that we see the Prapò. These vines wrap around the hill and, on one side, we see the Alta Langa. We have been treading this earth right from the 1960s and we know well what it has to offer: the soil is rich but the aspect is fresh and the grapes ripen slowly, an advantage in rainy years, an extra opportunity in hot ones.
What reaches the glass does not betray expectations and has the flavour of Serralunga: the nose is darker and fleshier than that which characterises the wines of the western slope of the appellation, and it is split by very clear balsamic notes. These raise the perfume, stamping it in a way that is always recognisable. The texture in the mouth is surprising: the tannins fill the taste, but do not distort it; they fortify it, without drying out its development. It is a pleasure to sip it when young, if well accompanied at the table, or to wait for its maturity and have fun in giving free rein to the complex tangle of its development.
Wine Advocate: 95 Points
The 2015 Barolo Prapò is a gorgeous expression of this vineyard site in Serralunga d'Alba, with an incredible sense of textural fiber that is so fine and tightly knit. The mouthfeel is extremely polished and silky. Like other Barolos from Ceretto, it almost seems a shame to distract attention from this craftsmanship with flavors from a heavy meal, and so it might be better to cellar it for a decade and then celebrate it with fine cheeses or pâté.
Vinous Media: 94 Points
The 2015 Barolo Prapò is another stellar wine in this range. Iron, smoke, blood orange and a host of mineral/feral notes give the Prapò striking complexity to play off the wine's intense, muscular tannins. Deceptively medium in body, the Prapò packs a serious punch. More than anything else, the Prapò has that distinctive Serralunga interplay of aromatic intensity, fruit depth and structural underpinning that make the best wines from the village so compelling.
Wine Spectator: 93 Points
Sleek and tightly packed, offering plum, eucalyptus, green tea, tar and spice flavors. A beam of vibrant acidity is allied to dense tannins. Balanced in a compact profile.
