2019 Pecchenino Bussia Barolo

“The abundant enthusiasm for the 2019 vintage has legitimate context… the wine regions of Piedmont have entered a chapter of unprecedented glory.” – Wine Advocate

That helps explain why Rinaldi’s 2019 Bussia goes for $600 a bottle these days.

Conterno, Parusso, Eunadi, and Cerretto all made a Bussia in 2019 as well. And each will set you back $100-$200.

Oh, and they all scored similarly in the 94-96 points range as this one.

Yet this Pecchenino? A STUNNER that has it all! From the same vintage, the same vineyard, and with similar scores? Clocking in UNDER $50?! A “gran” Cru Barolo when you can’t even easily buy a decent village-level “normale” at that price these days? NUTS.

Or truffles, the luxury white kind from Alba, from this same neighborhood, that are just about to hit the finest markets and restaurants across the US, hopefully sans-tariffs! Pop one of these guilt-free bubbles with practically anything covered in a generous shaving, kick back, and say, aah, la dolce vita!

Where were we? Truffles. Err, I mean Barolo! Antonio Galloni’s Vinous raved about it, saying “Pecchenino is best known for their wines from Dogliani, but recent vintages of their Barolos have been pretty impressive. I am intrigued to see how these rich, classically built Barolos age.”

And age it has. Just starting to peak, and with a couple of hours air it's SINGING. This blossoms with abundant rose and violet floral perfume, with layers upon layers of black cherry, menthol, tobacco, licorice, scorched earth, and incense. The palate shows beautifully, with tremendous richness, yet retaining a fairly classic sense of structure. Hints of orange peel, cinnamon, and star anise add nuances to this muscular, potent Barolo. Impressive today while it’s certainly going places for the decades to come with patience.

Add to that the Bussia factor and boom, you have a stunner. According to Académie du Vin Library (founded by Steven Spurrier the OG journalist who held the 1976 Judgement of Paris), *“Bussia, located mostly in the township of Monforte d’Alba, is arguably one of the five greatest sites in all of Barolo, and its wines have long enjoyed a lofty reputation… because Bussia’s greatness cannot be denied: it was the first ever Barolo Cru to be vinified as a single-district wine.”

There you have it…

We got you a Bussia from 2019 for under $50. What else do you want from Santa this year?

94 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate “The Pecchenino 2019 Barolo Bussia opens to a beautiful ruby color that shines from inside the glass. There is a subtle note of candied cherry or fragrant rose, but once that lifts, the wine reverts to characteristic Nebbiolo aromas of tar, licorice and blood orange. Bussia delivers a classic progression of aromas that are elegantly reinforced by the extra intensity and concentration of the 2019 vintage. Drink 2025-2040.”