Comm. G.B. Burlotto
Overview
Comm. G.B. Burlotto is one of the oldest and most historically significant estates in Verduno, Barolo. The estate, run by the Burlotto family for generations (now by Marina Burlotto and winemaker Fabio Alessandria), is credited with preserving the rare Verduno Pelaverga variety. Their Barolo comes from Verduno and Monvigliero — one of Barolo’s finest La Morra-adjacent crus. Burlotto is a reference point for classical, soil-expressive Barolo. The user has Burlotto in their cellar (noted in cellar profile as one of the Piedmont holdings). VFTC #117 mentions a 2012 Burlotto Dolcetto d’Alba encountered past its best (84 points), with Gilman noting Dolcetto is not meant for long aging.
Appellations
- Barolo — Monvigliero cru (Verduno), Acclivi, Castelletto
- Verduno Pelaverga — specialty; rare indigenous Langhe variety
- Barbera d’Alba
- Dolcetto d’Alba
Key Wines
- Barolo “Monvigliero” — flagship; old vines in one of Barolo’s finest single vineyards; traditional botti élevage; elegant, perfumed La Morra/Verduno style
- Verduno Pelaverga — estate specialty; rare variety nearly saved from extinction by Burlotto; light, spicy, botanicals
Style Notes
A benchmark for traditional Barolo — long macerations, large Slavonian oak, no new wood, extended aging requirements. The Verduno Pelaverga is a spicy, aromatic red made only by a handful of producers in Verduno; it is a distinctive specialty of the estate.
Note on Dolcetto: The 2012 Dolcetto d’Alba encountered in VFTC #117 was past its best, confirming Gilman’s general advice that Dolcetto is not built for extended aging (beyond 3–5 years typically).
Gilman Scores
| Wine | Vintage | Score | Window | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barolo “Monvigliero” | 2021 | 96 | 2045–2100+ | “Utterly brilliant bottle of Barolo once it is ready to drink”; cru elegance meets 2021 classic structure; sappy core |
| Barolo | 2021 | 93+ | 2045–2100 | Beautifully refined; transparent soils; lovely sappiness on backend |
| Dolcetto d’Alba | 2012 | 84 | — | Past its best; should have been drunk by 2020 |
My Tastings
(none yet)
Sources
- VFTC #117 (John Gilman, May-June 2025), pages 102–129 — brief mention of 2012 Dolcetto d’Alba
sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC July-August 2025 #118.txt— 2021 Barolo Monvigliero (96) and 2021 Barolo (93+); extensive notes on 2021 vintage character