Annunziata no more, we did warn you it would go fast… so onto the next Cru.

Same producer, another 96 POINT score, from the bangin’ 2016 vintage, and again under $50.

Rest assured, we’d JUMP on any Cru Barolo that blows our minds.

Even if it means highlight limited and destined to sell out.

So, throw what you can in your Lockers, then come back to read up on why it’s such a compelling wine.

Let’s start with the Cru. What does Cru even mean in Piedmont anyway? “Cru translates to ‘growth’ explains Wine Enhusiast *“More precisely, it references a great or superior growing site or vineyard, a concept linked to the French notion of terroir…” explaining that “in Piedmont, Barolo and Barbaresco have mapped out their Grand Crus by geography, and those vineyard delineations are part of the bylaws of their Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCGs).”

In short, a PRIME vineyard.

Cerretta is a true gem in Serralunga d’Alba. La Cerretta, Giacomo Conterno, Giovanni Rosso, Azelia, Elio Altare, and Fratelli Revello are some of the big names who work with this stellar site.

The Barolos of Brandini lean on the feminine (two sisters making them!) and traditional side, but their depth and complexity are undeniable. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate reveals “Based in La Morra, Agricola Brandini is a relatively new estate founded by Eataly entrepreneur Oscar Farinetti and New York restaurateur Joe Bastianich.”

If you’ve been to an Eataly, you know how this dynamic duo takes the finer things in life seriously.

Treat yourself, before this too disappears for good.

96 Points – Wine Enthusiast

“Forest berry, underbrush, iris, rose and camphor waft out of the glass. Savory, vibrant and expressive, the polished, structured palate delivers strawberry compote, crushed morello cherry, licorice and tobacco alongside firm, refined tannins. Bright acidity generates youthful tension. Drink 2024–2036.”