Cristian Boffa 'del Comune di la Morra' Barolo DOCG, 2022

*This is our Annual Barolo Direct Import Offer*

The Cristian Boffa 2022 Barolo del Comune di La Morra is one of those few remaining small-scale, deeply personal wines that reminds us why following young Piedmontese growers can be so rewarding, particularly when the grower has come-of-age amidst his Family's ancient vines. Drawn from vineyards in and around Santa Maria della Morra, this is a beautiful expression of La Morra, combining the commune's characteristic perfume and finesse with the structure and depth needed to make a serious cellar wine. Particularly important in the dry 2022 vintage are the vineyard's east-facing slopes, which benefit from morning sun while avoiding the more intense late-afternoon exposure. In a year when water conservation and vine resilience were critical, these cooler orientations were a genuine advantage, helping preserve freshness and balance in the fruit.

Indeed, Charlie Leech, 'Italian Buyer' at Berry Bros. & Rudd, makes precisely this point in his excellent 2022 Barolo Vintage Report, emphasizing that the keys to working successfully in such a dry year were old vines, easterly vineyard expositions and the accumulated knowledge of multi-generational growers. He notes that old vines with deep root systems handily mitigated any hydric stress, and east-facing slopes retained a fresher edge by avoiding the warmer afternoon sun. Boffa's wines are a clear illustration of what can happen when those vineyard advantages are paired with careful, intentional, small-scale winemaking. The result is simply lovely, with the wine showing the purity, freshness and fine-grained structure that make La Morra so compelling.

This is a simply delicious Barolo albeit for the serious table, and, yet one that carries itself with an easy elegance. The wine brings together the red and darker fruit, floral lift, savory character and fine tannins that make Nebbiolo such a natural companion for roast meats, veal, mushrooms, handmade pasta, game and a beautifully prepared steak. There is ample substance to stand up to a bigger meal, but the east-facing vineyard character and Boffa's restrained approach keep the wine graceful and energetic...maybe best for a thoughtful night. This is the sort of bottle that invites another glass, then another, while gradually revealing more of its character as the evening unfolds.

Boffa was born and raised in La Morra, with viticultural roots on both sides of his family, and today works vines with deep family connections to Santa Maria. His approach is resolutely small scale, allowing him to work closely with individual parcels and make wines with an unusually strong sense of place. That combination of old vines, advantageous east-facing exposures and hands-on cellar work is exactly what Charlie Leech highlights when discussing the producers who succeeded in 2022. In a dry year, Boffa has produced wines that show not merely resilience, but the beauty that careful farming and thoughtful winemaking can extract from this special, arid vintage.

The 2022 is a particularly exciting bottle to put into the cellar because it offers both immediate pleasure and a genuine forecast of even more. Cristian Boffa is making charming and seriously delicious wine from his family's old vines; and, this Barolo del Comune di La Morra is an outstanding introduction to his work. A distinctive, thoughtful and thoroughly delicious Barolo, it is exactly the kind of young grower wine worth buying now, enjoying at the table and following as the years unfold.

This discreet collection of twelve wines includes automatic discounts applied at checkout and zoned flat rate shipping upon arrival. These wines are on-order to our Shops and inbound, expected for available pickup/delivery/shipping by about Thanksgiving. Order and save today; our Staff will reach you directly when your Order is prepared.

10% Discount for Any 3+ Bottles

15% Discount for Any 6+ Bottles

20% Discount for Any 12+ Bottles

(This wine is Vintage 2022, not yet arrived; the photograph here is of Cristian's Label.)

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