2016 Damilano Cannubi 1752 Barolo Riserva Piedmont 750 ml

Barolo’s Cannubi cru enjoys the same reverence as Napa’s To Kalon or Burgundy’s Richebourg. Antonio Galloni called it “among the most precious vineyards anywhere in the world”—and from it, the fourth-generation Damilano family crafted one of the greatest Barolos of the superb 2016 vintage. 

The 2016 Damilano Cannubi 1752 Barolo Riserva earned a perfect 100-point score from Italian-wine expert James Suckling, who named it his #20 wine IN THE WORLD in 2023. His praise was unqualified: He called it not only “a phenomenal Barolo from a benchmark vintage,” but “one of the greatest Cannubis ever.” That’s a stunning statement, considering the history of the vineyard. 

The Damilano family farms more than half of the coveted Cannubi cru, and in the century-plus since they’ve been there, few vintages have topped to 2016. With moderate temperatures and dry days, the start of the season crept slowly along until Mother Nature turned up the thermostat, starting slowly in July and running through August and September. Showers occasionally broke up the summer heat and kept temperatures in fine balance, and when all was said and done, Wine Advocate rated the vintage one of the best in two decades.  

Grape growers had recognized the sublime quality of the fruit grown on Cannubi’s slopes as early as the 18th century. Derived from a local dialect, “Cannubi” translates as “mix of soil,” and refers to the geological anomaly that makes the vineyard a unique and magnificent site: It is the only location in Barolo to feature both Tortonian marl and chalky, iron-rich Helvetian soils. This intersection contributes to the wine’s terrific complexity, manifesting both the graceful and muscular aspects of Barolo’s soul.