• The Venue and Getting Started.
• Flight 1: Brovia, Ceretto, Oddero, Vietti.
• Flight 2: Einaudi, Grasso, Parusso.
• Flight 3: Sandrone, Altare.
• Flight 4: Trediberri, Cogno, Vajra, Burlotto.
• Flight 5: Scavino, G. Conterno.
• Photos of the Winemakers.
• Lunch.

• 2013 Barolo Tasting in 2018.
• 2012 Barolo Tasting in 2017.
• 2011 Barolo Tasting in 2016.
• 2010 Barolo Tasting in 2015.
• 2008 Barolo Tasting in 2013.
• 2006-07 Barolo Tasting in 2011.

• The Gala Dinner at the 2017 La Festa del Barolo with Franco Massolino.
• The Gala Dinner at the 2016 La Festa del Barolo with Giuseppe & Isi Vaira.
• The Gala Dinner at the 2015 La Festa del Barolo with Fabio Alessandria, Burlotto.
• The Gala Dinner at the 2013 La Festa del Barolo with Alex Sanchez, Brovia.
• The Gala Dinner at the 2011 La Festa del Barolo with Beppe & Marta Rinaldi.

• 2015 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Rocche di Castiglione - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Alex Sanchez said that his father-in-law, Giacinto Brovia, bought this parcel in Rocche di Castiglione in 1968.] Lovely nose of sweet red fruit. Sweet, medium body, long, elegant. Young, but you could drink it today with pleasure. Probably better to give it a decade in the cellar. (91–93 points)
• 2015 Azienda Bricco Rocche (Ceretto) Barolo Bricco Rocche - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Alessandro Ceretto said that they used new barrique until 2005. Since 2010, they have gone biodynamic, started using large botti, and replanted half this vineyard using massal selection. This smallest of all MGAs is a Ceretto monopole. It is between Rocche di Castiglione and Villero.] Reserved nose. Long and juicy in the mouth. Elegant and tasty. This is the best young wine I have tasted from Ceretto in some time. (93 points)
• 2015 Oddero Barolo Rocche di Castiglione - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [First time for the Oddero winery at La Festa. Mariacristina "Cristina" Oddero mentioned that Rocche di Castiglione was the first single-vineyard wine made by her winery.] Pure red plum nose. Rich and sweet in the mouth. Medium length. Delicious. More black fruit in the mouth as it opens. Expansive and impressive. Serious Barolo. (93–? points)
• 2015 Vietti Barolo Rocche di Castiglione - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Huge sweet lack fruit nose with hints of vanilla. Silky black fruit with firm tannins underneath. More new oak than I like, but it should integrate with time. (92–94 points)

• 2015 Poderi Luigi Einaudi Barolo Bussia - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [First time for Einaudi at La Festa. Matteo Sardagna is the great-grandson of founder Luigi Einaudi, following in the footsteps his grandfather Roberto Einaudi and his mother Paola Einaudi. I believe he said that this parcel in Bussia of nearly 6 hectares is the first that he has purchased. 2015 is their first vintage of this wine. Matteo also said that he has moved to more traditional methods such as no barriques and 40-day maceration.] Dark nose of black fruit and coffee. Juicy, rich, sweet black fruit. Tasty wine. The best young wine I've had from this estate. (91–93 points)
• 2015 Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Gianluca Grasso said his first vintage was 1996. He is 45 years old. His father is almost 77 and is still out tending his vines and still teaching Gianluca about the vines. He told a story where a consultant told them the grapes were ready to be harvested based technical measurements. His father said no and showed him how some grapes were not fully ripe and the seeds were still green. They harvested one week later and his father was right.] Sweet nose of red fruit ground beef. Long and delicious. Appealing spice and red fruit. My favorite La Festa wine from the producer. (93–? points)
• 2015 Parusso Barolo Bussia - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Marco Parusso said this is blended from two parcels in Bussia, one of which is called "Vigna Rocche". 100% whole cluster.] Loads of sweet chocolate in the nose. Rich and spicy in the mouth with loads of vanilla and chocolate and a hint of red fruit. Heavily over-oaked. Not my style.

• 2015 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Aleste - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Barbara Sandrone (Luciano's daughter) explained that Aleste is the new name of their wine from Cannubi Boschis. She was understandably emotional while explaining that Luciano is feeling his mortality at age 74 and having undergone heart surgery in December 2014, so he decided to name his most famous wine after his grandchildren ALEssia and STEfano (Barbara's daughter and son). She also mentioned that in 2014, they bought a small parcel in Cannubi itself. It's only 1/4 hectare, but it will not be blended into Aleste.] Huge nose of sweet black fruit, tar, and graphite. Rich and juicy in the mouth. Elegant and powerful. A delicious wine with significant aging potential for the vintage. (93–? points)
• 2015 Elio Altare Barolo Cannubi - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Silvia Altare mentioned that this is her 17th vintage, which made me feel old since I first met her father when she was just a little girl. She also spoke at length about preserving the legacy of her father. She said this wine is from a small parcel in Cannubi proper which they lease and hope to buy.] Nose of sweet red fruit. Surprisingly austere in the mouth with elegant tannins creating a nice backbone in this fruit-forward vintage. Good grip on a long graceful finish. The use of new oak seems very restrained here. This may be my favorite wine from this estate since the 1980s. Wonderful balance and elegance with good structure. Sadly only 4 barrels are produced. It is expensive and hard to find. (94–95 points)

• 2015 Trediberri Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [This is the first time for Trediberri at La Festa. The winery only started production in 2010. Nicola Oberto is one of the three owners and the primary winemaker. His father was the winemaker at Renato Ratti and the grapes this wine is made from used to be sold to Ratti to make their Rocche dell'Annunziata. Nicola said that he thinks of the Ratti family as his second family.] Lovely floral nose of roses and violets. Sweet cherry fruit. Long and tasty. Very promising. (92–93 points)
• 2015 Azienda Agricola Elvio Cogno Barolo Bricco Pernice - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Valter Fissore mentioned that he's now 55. He began at the winery in 1991.] Distinctive nose of black fruit and almonds. Spicy, juicy, tannic with rich fruit. Long and tasty. One of the more backward wines of this tasting. (92–94 points)
• 2015 G.D. Vajra Barolo Ravera - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Giuseppe Vaira mentioned that their parcel in Ravera is adjacent to Cogno's.] Nose of black fruit and licorice. Silky and rich in the mouth with a long delicious finish. Just riveting. The finish goes on and on. My second favorite wine of the tasting. Wow! (95–? points)
• 2015 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Nose of tar, red fruit, and spice. Rich cherry in the mouth. A hint of green tannin in the mid palate concerns me a bit. (93? points)

• 2015 Paolo Scavino Barolo Prapò - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Nose of new oak and red fruit. In the mouth, it is unnaturally thick for Nebbiolo. Long finish of black fruit and vanilla. Well made, but just too oaky for me.
• 2015 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Arione - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Opening slowly. The nose is stunning with a complex array of red fruit, black fruit, cardamom, and cloves. Powerful and expansive in the mouth. Incredible depth and complexity. Easily the wine of the tasting, though I would give a slight edge to the Arione Nebbiolo I tasted last night at the Gala dinner. (97 points)

All original content © Ken Vastola