A Side-by-Side Tasting of Vietti Barolo with Winemaker Eugenio Palumbo

I’ve always been impressed by Vietti’s Barolos, but getting to taste them with the winemaker? Now that wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card. And this wasn’t just any old tasting—it was a rare chance to compare the 2020 and 2021 vintages side by side, with insights straight from Vietti’s own Eugenio Palumbo.

If you know Barolo, you know Vietti. They have been making wine for four generations and have long been pioneers in single-vineyard Cru expressions, recognizing the unique potential of each site and bottling them separately to highlight their distinct personalities. This approach has helped define the importance of terroir in Barolo, giving wine lovers a deeper understanding of how place shapes the wine. Owning some of the region’s most prestigious vineyards, they don’t just make incredible wines—they set the benchmark.

This tasting focused on two back-to-back vintages, and it was fascinating to see the contrast. At the shop, we’ve been praising the 2020s for their early approachability—it’s a vintage that lets you enjoy Barolo sooner rather than later. Hearing Eugenio reinforce this was reassuring. The 2020s showed beautiful aromatics, supple texture, and were already drinking beautifully.

The 2021s offer a different feel. While clearly possessing the same pedigree and depth, this vintage is built more for the long haul—tighter with more structure. It still needs time to fully unfurl its complexities. Decanting would be beneficial now, but if you have the patience to cellar it, the payoff will be huge.

Tastings like this don’t happen every day. These wines are highly allocated and come with a hefty price tag, so getting to experience them side by side with the winemaker himself was a real treat. It was a reminder of just how special Vietti’s Cru Barolos are and why they remain a benchmark for the entire region.