The 2020 Barolo from Gian Luca Colombo is a striking release from one of Piedmont’s most thoughtful young voices. Drawn from parcels in Roddi, La Morra and Ravera, it captures the perfume, structure, and tension of each site without ever feeling stitched together. Fermented slowly in steel with native yeasts and long macerations, then aged patiently in large oak and bottle before release, this is Barolo made with a deep respect for tradition, but with a lighter touch and remarkable clarity. Lifted aromas of rose petal, blood orange and crushed herbs give way to layers of wild strawberry, tobacco leaf, leather, and warm spice. There’s a translucency to the fruit that feels almost weightless, yet the wine carries real depth and persistence underneath. Fine, chalky tannins frame the palate without ever overwhelming it, while bright acidity keeps everything taut and energized. There’s something beautifully old-school here — not in a rustic sense, but in the wine’s honesty, perfume, and restraint. Ethereal, savory and quietly compelling, this is the kind of Barolo that keeps pulling you back to the glass, both utterly classic and totally contemporary.