Drawing its fruit from Novello, the Sordo 2016 Barolo Ravera is a dark and beautifully concentrated expression that releases pretty aromas of blackberry, aniseed, tilled earth and cola. The vines are young, at about 20 years old, and they are planted in mineral-rich, compact soils with layers of blue and gray marl. These conditions contribute to the concentration and power of the wine. Like some of these other new releases from Sordo, my only hesitation concerns the quality of the tannins, which are raw and sharp at this young stage. Some 15,000 bottles were released.
These are old-school wines made in the traditional manner by the Sordo family, starting one century ago with grandpa Giuseppe and continuing today under the management of Giorgio. The winery farms 53 hectares of vines spread over some of the very best growing sites in Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba, Monforte d'Alba, Barolo, Novello, La Morra, Verduno, Grinzane Cavour and Vezza d'Alba. The family is on track to open a new rural bed & breakfast (agriturismo) plus a spa.