Collina San Ponzio has been farming Nebbiolo in Barolo since 1878, long before the modern era of consultants, shiny cellars, and $300 single-vineyard bottlings. Five generations in, the Balocco family still works their hillsides the old way: 60-year-old vines, organic-minded farming, ruthless green harvesting, and a cellar philosophy that’s basically “don’t screw up what the vineyard gives you.” While they’re best known for their Fossati cru (which now rarely appears under $100), their straight 2019 Barolo DOCG is the insider play—the bottle Piedmont collectors quietly buy by the case for aromatics and finesse.

The 2019 is classic, high-altitude La Morra elegance: lifted, red-toned fruit; rose petals; spice; and that fine, silty tannin profile that fans of Rocche, Brunate, and Cerequio chase. It tastes like a single-cru Barolo accidentally priced as a village wine, with wild cherry, pomegranate, candied rose, strawberry seed, tea leaf, licorice root, and crushed stone. This is “perfume-first” Barolo—the kind that has you smelling your empty glass an hour later—and the kind that simply shouldn’t exist at this price anymore.

Why You'll Love It:

• Historic pedigree: A family-run estate since 1878 farming old vines on prime La Morra/Barolo hillsides.

• Cru-level energy: Aromatics, structure, and finesse that drink well above DOCG labeling and well above its price.

• Insane value: A true unicorn—legit Barolo elegance and ageability at $38 ($32 on 6+), a price tier that has basically vanished.

How To Serve It:

• Decant 45–60 minutes to let the rose, cherry, and tea-leaf notes come alive.

• Serve at 58–62°F in a Burgundy bowl for maximum aromatic lift.

• Pair with mushroom risotto, roasted lamb, truffle dishes, or simply a wedge of aged Parm—it thrives with umami and herbs.