Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc 2017

Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc 2017 is a single-vineyard Barolo DOCG from Castiglione Falletto, Piedmont, at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. This cru bottling earned 97 points from James Suckling, 96 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, and 95 points from Jeb Dunnuck — placing it among the top-rated wines of its vintage across the entire Barolo denomination.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Castiglione Falletto, Barolo DOCG, Piedmont, Italy  |  Vintage: 2017  |  Producer: Paolo Scavino

Production & Heritage

Paolo Scavino has farmed vineyards in Castiglione Falletto since the family divided ownership of their 11-hectare estate in the 1950s, with each branch receiving an equal share of the famed Fiasco hill. Bric del Fiasc was first bottled as a separate single-vineyard expression in 1978, making Paolo Scavino one of the original producers to champion cru Barolo. The fruit comes from three southwest-facing plots planted on a mix of sandstone and limestone soils. Each cru is vinified separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel with native yeasts, undergoing 8 to 12 days of maceration followed by 20 to 30 days of alcoholic fermentation. The wine then ages for 10 months in neutral French oak barrels, 12 months in large casks, 10 months in stainless steel, and a further 10 months in bottle before release.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with stony graphitic earth and licorice before giving way to violets, cherry liqueur, and dried flowers. Walnut and hazelnut undertones emerge with time in the glass, adding depth and complexity.

Taste: The entry is pure and focused, led by dark fruit and sweet cherry with seamless integration. At mid-palate, dried apricot, blood orange, and cinnamon build into a full, structured core. Balsam herb and subtle limestone minerality provide enormous clarity and definition throughout.

Finish: Long and persistent, with fine-grained tannins that carry echoes of plum, spice, and graphite. The mineral thread lingers well after the fruit recedes, reinforcing the wine's precision and site-specific character.

How to Drink Bric del Fiasc 2017

This is a wine built for the table and benefits from being served at 60–65°F after at least an hour in a decanter. Neat in a large-bowled glass is the ideal serve, allowing the aromatics to fully develop. While Barolo of this caliber is typically enjoyed on its own or with food rather than in cocktails, it pairs exceptionally well with rich cuisine — see food pairings below.

Best For

• Cellaring for special milestone celebrations over the next 10–20 years
• Gifting a serious Italian wine collector or Nebbiolo enthusiast
• Anchoring a formal dinner party with braised or roasted meat courses
• Adding a benchmark single-vineyard Barolo to a curated Piedmont collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bric del Fiasc 2017 taste like? It leads with dark cherry, plum, and graphite minerality, supported by dried apricot, blood orange, and cinnamon spice on a full-bodied, finely tannic frame. Violets and licorice on the nose carry through to a long, mineral-driven finish.

How does Bric del Fiasc compare to the standard Paolo Scavino Barolo? The commune-level Paolo Scavino Barolo blends fruit from multiple vineyards for a more approachable, earlier-drinking style, while Bric del Fiasc is a single-vineyard cru sourced exclusively from southwest-facing plots on sandstone and limestone in Castiglione Falletto. The cru bottling typically shows greater concentration, structural complexity, and aging potential.

Is Bric del Fiasc 2017 good for cellaring? Yes — its firm tannic structure, high acidity, and mineral backbone are hallmarks of Barolo built for long-term aging, and top critics scored it between 95 and 97 points, suggesting significant development potential over the next decade or more.

Where is Bric del Fiasc made? Bric del Fiasc is produced by the Paolo Scavino estate in Castiglione Falletto, one of the eleven communes within the Barolo DOCG appellation in Piedmont, northwestern Italy. The vineyard sits on southwest-facing slopes composed of sandstone and limestone.

What foods pair well with Bric del Fiasc 2017? Braised short ribs or osso buco complement the wine's tannic structure and dark fruit depth. Tajarin pasta with a rich meat ragù mirrors Piedmontese tradition. Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano or Castelmagno cheese highlights the minerality. Wild mushroom risotto draws out the earthy, graphite-like undertones. Roasted lamb with rosemary echoes the balsam herb notes in the wine.

What sizes does Bric del Fiasc come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for this single-vineyard Barolo.

Is Bric del Fiasc 2017 worth the price? Bric del Fiasc positions as a premium single-vineyard Barolo from one of the denomination's pioneering cru producers. With scores of 97 (Suckling), 96 (Wine Advocate), and 95 (Dunnuck), the 2017 vintage represents strong critical validation within the upper tier of Barolo pricing, where single-vineyard bottlings from historically significant sites command a justified premium.

Why Bric del Fiasc 2017?

Bric del Fiasc holds a distinct place in Barolo history as one of the earliest single-vineyard bottlings in the denomination, first separated in 1978 when cru designations were still uncommon. The 2017 vintage drew near-universal acclaim from major critics, earning 97 points from James Suckling and 96 from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Its extended aging regimen — moving through neutral French oak, large casks, stainless steel, and bottle over roughly three and a half years before release — produces a Nebbiolo of unusual polish without sacrificing the structural grip that defines great Castiglione Falletto Barolo. For collectors and serious drinkers seeking a historically significant, critically acclaimed single-vineyard expression from a benchmark estate, this bottling delivers on provenance, pedigree, and sheer quality of fruit.