Palladino, Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d’Alba (Piedmont, Italy) 2017

I have more than a few years of experience with wines from this producer, as Palladino often shows wines in “Nebbiolo Prima,” an event in Alba during which wineries in Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero debut their new releases.  I attend almost every year, and have done so for years on end.  However, I confess that I didn’t really take note until being bowled over by Palladino’s 2016 release from the Ornato MGA (or “cru,” if you’re more comfortable with the French correlative term).  That wine snapped me to attention and this wine is definitely holding it, with arresting balsamic aromas and soft, open flavors that ride along effortlessly and persistently thanks to very well-managed tannins that offer just the right faming with no astringency.  Sourced solely from the village of Serralunga, which is arguably the most charming of all within the Barolo district, with the richest and most impactful wines, this is a superb release from the 2017 vintage and a wine to seek out and drink sooner rather than later.  With serious aeration or double-decanting, it is ready to rip, and very rewarding already.