Barolo is the 'Wine of Kings' — Nebbiolo demands at least a decade before it fully opens. The 2010 and 2016 are the generational benchmarks; the 2019, 2021, and 2022 are all building toward greatness.
Year-by-year quality
| Vintage | Quality |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Outstanding |
| 2023 | Very Good |
| 2022 | Exceptional |
| 2021 | Outstanding |
| 2020 | Outstanding |
| 2019 | Outstanding |
| 2018 | Outstanding |
| 2017 | Good |
| 2016 | Exceptional |
| 2015 | Outstanding |
| 2014 | Average |
| 2013 | Exceptional |
| 2012 | Outstanding |
| 2011 | Very Good |
| 2010 | Exceptional |
Is your Barolo ready to drink?
Vintage quality is the starting point. Check the drinking window for a specific bottle — no account required.
Check a Barolo wine — freeBarolo vintages — questions answered
Which Barolo vintages are best?
The standout Barolo vintages in this chart are 2022, 2016, 2013, 2010. These are the years that reward the longest cellaring — see the year-by-year breakdown for how every vintage from 2010 to 2024 rates.
How long should I cellar a Barolo wine?
Barolo is the 'Wine of Kings' — Nebbiolo demands at least a decade before it fully opens. The 2010 and 2016 are the generational benchmarks; the 2019, 2021, and 2022 are all building toward greatness.
Is my Barolo wine ready to drink now?
Vintage quality is only the starting point — readiness also depends on the producer, the wine's style, and how it has been stored. Use our free drinking-window checker for a personalised readiness assessment of any specific Barolo wine.
SOURCES & FRESHNESS
Vintage-chart methodology follows the industry standard set by Wine Spectator — Vintage Charts · verified 2026-07-09. The Quality ratings above are Saignée's own editorial synthesis of collector and critic consensus, not a transcription of any single publication's scores.
Last updated: 2026-07-09