DOCG Red

La Spinetta Barolo Garretti DOCG

Azienda Agricola La Spinetta

Grape
Nebbiolo
Denomination
Barolo DOCG
Region
Piedmont
ABV
14.5%
Drink
2021: 2026 to 2040

La Spinetta's accessible Barolo: 100% Nebbiolo from a 70-year-old vineyard at Grinzane Cavour, raised in used French oak. Garnet and perfumed, with red cherry, dried rose, tar and tobacco over firm, fine-grained tannin from the Campe estate.

Best price
£43.09

2021 · 75cl · checked 6 Nov · Delivery charged at checkout

Black FridayNo checked saving on this wine today. See 14 checked deals on Barolo

Vintages 2022 2021

We track 5 UK retailers across all vintages and formats, including out-of-stock offers. Prices read several times a week. We earn a commission on some links; it never changes the order.

Where to buy La Spinetta Barolo Garretti

£43.09 best price · 2 retailers with 75cl · 2021 in stock · checked 6 Nov 2026

Stock is shown where the retailer publishes it, offers are sorted by price, and unavailable offers can’t be clicked.

8wines Best price 2021 · 75cl · checked 6 Nov · Delivery charged at checkout
Read from the retailer's page on the date shown, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£43.09 £57.45/L
Vino.com Best price 2021 · 75cl · checked 6 Nov · Delivery usually £16.90, free on 3 bottles
Read from the retailer's page on the date shown, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£55.50 £74.00/L
XtraWine Best price 2022 · 75cl · checked 6 Nov · Delivery charge shown at checkout
Read from the retailer's page on the date shown, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£58.00 £77.33/L
Great Wines Direct Best price 2022 · 75cl · checked 6 Nov · Delivery £7.95, min 6 bottles
Read from the retailer's page on the date shown, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£59.42 £79.23/L
The Great Wine Co. Best price 2022 · 75cl · checked 6 Nov · Delivery £8, free on 2 bottles
Read from the retailer's page on the date shown, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£68.00 £90.67/L

Stock status is read from each retailer’s page several times a week and may lag.

Tasting Notes

Tar, rose and red cherry: tasting the 2021 Garretti

Built from Vivino drinker consensus across more than 6,000 ratings, critic notes from Vinous and Jeb Dunnuck, and La Spinetta's own profile. Expect classic Nebbiolo: dried rose and tar over red cherry, tobacco and sweet spice, carried by bright acidity and firm tannin.

Tasted by
Style guidance
Source
Style guidance · confidence Medium
Typical of Nebbiolo
Body Light / Full
Tannins Smooth / Grippy
Sweetness Dry / Sweet
Acidity Soft / Crisp
Typical flavours for this style (Nebbiolo)

The flavours below are the signature of Nebbiolo in this style, shown here as shared reference. Tasting notes specific to this bottle are added when we research it.

Rose petalRose petal
CherryCherry
PlumPlum
TobaccoTobacco
TarTar
LeatherLeather
CinnamonCinnamon
LiquoriceLiquorice
Live UK pricing

What Barolo Garretti costs and where to find it

Two UK merchants currently list the 2021, from about 47 to 68 pounds a bottle. Average production is around 11,000 bottles a year, so Garretti is the most available wine in La Spinetta's Barolo range and the easiest entry point to the estate.

Best price · 75 cl · 2021 £43.09 at 8wines
Price spread · 75cl · 2021 £43.09 - £55.50 Across 2 UK retailers with 75cl · 2021 in stock
Retailers · 75cl · 2021 2UK 2 in stock
Vintages live 2022 · 2021 Newest vintage on sale here: 2022
Per-litre (75cl · 2021 basis) £57.45 Lowest current 75cl · 2021 offer
Last checked 6 Nov 2026 Refreshed once every 24 hours
Other vintages and formats: 1 price line

75cl · 2022: £58.00 - £68.00, 3 UK retailers

Wine fit score

How Barolo Garretti scores for food, value and cellaring

A structured, food-first Barolo at the accessible end of the appellation's pricing. It rates highly for the table and for classic Nebbiolo character, with real but moderate cellar potential in this earlier-drinking style.

Best with food 9.0/10

Firm tannin and bright acidity make Barolo one of Italy's great food reds, built for rich meat, truffle and aged cheese.

Best for an occasion 8.2/10

Barolo's prestige and La Spinetta's name make Garretti a credible special-occasion pour at a sensible price.

Best value 7.2/10

At about 47 pounds for a true Barolo DOCG from a benchmark producer, Garretti sits at the affordable end of the appellation, if not an everyday price.

Best for cellar 7.0/10

DOCG ageing rules and firm 2021 tannin give real cellar potential to about 2040, tempered by Garretti's earlier-drinking house style.

Best intro to this style 6.2/10

A gentle way into Barolo thanks to its fresher, used-oak style, though Nebbiolo's grip still asks a little experience.

Best everyday bottle 3.2/10

Too structured and too dear for midweek drinking; this is an occasion Barolo rather than a house red.

Scoring is rule-based and deterministic. The model and weightings are documented in our Wine Fit Score methodology.

Denomination Compliance Snapshot

Barolo in five fields

A compact view of what the Barolo denomination actually requires, and how this bottle sits inside it. Pulled from the official Italian disciplinare.

Allowed grapes
100% Nebbiolo
This bottle: Nebbiolo.
Minimum ageing
38 months
from 1 November, 18 in wood
Region / area
Cuneo, Langhe: Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba, La Morra, Monforte d'Alba, Novello, Verduno, Grinzane Cavour, Diano d'Alba, Cherasco, Roddi
Source: Disciplinare.
Style
DOCG · Barolo
Alcohol minimum in the rules: 13.0%. A total-alcohol minimum includes the alcohol the remaining sugar could produce, so the ABV on the label can be lower.
Classification
DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita)
Vintages

The 2021 vintage in Barolo

2021 was a classic, structured Barolo vintage with fresh aromatics and firm tannin. Jeb Dunnuck scored the Garretti 93 points with a window to 2040; in its more accessible style the wine already shows well, with cellaring upside for those who wait.

2022 Newest vintage on sale here
Best price
£58.00
Retailers
3 in stock
2021 Other vintage on sale here
Best price
£43.09
Retailers
2 in stock
ABV
14.5%
Window
Drink now through 2040

2021 was a cool, classic Barolo vintage that gave fresh aromatics and firm, structured tannin. In Garretti's accessible, used-oak style it is already enjoyable, with Jeb Dunnuck rating it 93 points and citing a window to 2040.

Drink-now / hold guidance reflects general style cues for this wine, not a forecast for a specific bottle. Where vintage-level editorial notes exist, they appear above.

The disciplinare, the place, the label

A true Barolo DOCG, not a Langhe Nebbiolo

Garretti carries Barolo's strictest rules: 100% Nebbiolo grown inside the Grinzane Cavour commune, a minimum 38 months ageing with at least 18 in oak, and a mandatory release tasting. La Spinetta draws it from a 70-year-old vineyard at 240 metres on calcareous clay.

01

DOC, DOCG, IGT: what the badges mean

Italian wine law sorts bottles into a pyramid. DOCG sits at the top: tightly drawn boundaries, prescribed grapes, mandatory ageing, government tasting before release. DOC is the same idea with looser thresholds. IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) is broader still, requiring only that 85% of the grapes come from the named territory.

Barolo is in the DOCG tier. That is not a quality verdict, it is a description of how much freedom the producer has at vinification and ageing.

02

The denomination rules, in detail

  • Allowed grapes. 100% Nebbiolo
  • Yield ceiling. 8.0 tonnes per hectare
  • Alcohol minimum in the rules. 13.0% vol. A total-alcohol minimum includes the alcohol the remaining sugar could produce, so the ABV on the label can be lower.
  • Minimum ageing. 38 months from 1 November, 18 in wood
  • Tasting panel. Chemical analysis and a tasting commission before sale, required by Italian law for every DOC and DOCG
03

Region and area context

Barolo falls within Piedmont, covering Cuneo, Langhe: Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba, La Morra, Monforte d'Alba, Novello, Verduno, Grinzane Cavour, Diano d'Alba, Cherasco, Roddi. The denomination is further divided into 11 sub-zones.

Barolo DOCG zone Wine route in the zone

Producer: Azienda Agricola La Spinetta, Castagnole delle Lanze.

Wine route in the zone: Langhe Nebbiolo Route.

04

Reading the label

  • Azienda Agricola La SpinettaProducer / estate
  • NebbioloGrape varieties
  • Barolo DOCGGeographic indication and quality tier
  • 2021Vintage of the 75 cl bottle on sale here
  • 14.5% vol · 75 clAlcohol by volume and bottle size
  • Bottled at the estateBottling
05

What sits behind the price of La Spinetta Barolo Garretti

Tracked from
£43.09
Direction
Mostly cost up
Drivers
3 up / 2 down
Main factor
Barolo DOCG rules: 38 months minimum ageing before release
  1. 01

    Barolo DOCG rules: 38 months minimum ageing before release

    Cost up

    Every Barolo, Garretti included, must age at least 38 months with 18 in oak and pass a release tasting, so La Spinetta carries the 2021 for years before it earns a penny.

  2. 02

    70-year-old estate vineyard at Grinzane Cavour, hand-farmed

    Cost up

    The Garretti cru is 70-year-old Nebbiolo on calcareous clay at 240 metres; old, low-yielding vines and manual estate farming cost far more per bottle than bought-in fruit.

  3. 03

    Used French oak instead of new barriques

    Cost down

    Unlike the flagship Campe, Garretti is raised in second-passage French oak, so La Spinetta skips the cost of new barrels each vintage and passes a fresher, more affordable Barolo to the buyer.

  4. 04

    Larger 11,000-bottle production for a Barolo

    Cost down

    At around 11,000 bottles a year Garretti is made in far greater volume than the single-cru Barolos, spreading fixed cellar costs and holding the UK price near 47 pounds.

  5. 05

    UK duty and VAT on still wine

    Cost up

    UK alcohol duty of 2.67 pounds a bottle on still wine up to 15% ABV, plus 20% VAT, account for roughly 10.50 pounds of a 47-pound UK price before the merchant's margin.

01

Barolo DOCG rules: 38 months minimum ageing before release

Cost up

Every Barolo, Garretti included, must age at least 38 months with 18 in oak and pass a release tasting, so La Spinetta carries the 2021 for years before it earns a penny.

Perfect Pairings

Dishes that go with this wine

Food Pairing

Nebbiolo tannin and Piedmontese fat: dishes that fit Garretti

Barolo's firm tannin and bright acidity are built for rich, slow-cooked meat and savoury, earthy flavours. Brasato al Barolo, ossobuco, truffle and porcini pasta and aged Alpine cheese all meet the wine's structure; chilli heat and delicate raw fish are the pairings to avoid.

Tannin softening Strong match

Piedmontese braised beef and game

Slow-braised meat is rich in collagen and fat that bind Nebbiolo's firm tannin, softening the wine while its acidity keeps the dish fresh. A brasato cooked in Barolo itself mirrors the wine in the pot.

Try with: Brasato al Barolo · Ossobuco alla Milanese · Bollito dei Pastori · More pairings →

Aromatic bridge Strong match

Truffle, porcini and earthy pasta

Nebbiolo's tar, tobacco and forest-floor aromatics bridge straight to truffle and dried mushroom, lifting both. The wine's savoury edge and acidity carry earthy, umami-rich primi.

Try with: Tajarin al Tartufo · Tagliatelle al tartufo di Acqualagna · Porcini mushroom risotto · Truffle risotto · More pairings →

Body matching Good match

Rich Langhe egg-pasta primi

Butter-and-egg Langhe pasta has the richness to meet a full-bodied Barolo without being overwhelmed, while the wine's tannin and acidity cut the fat. A regional pairing from Garretti's own corner of Piedmont.

Try with: Agnolotti del Plin · Tajarin al Tartufo · More pairings →

Fat cutting Good match

Grilled and chargrilled red meat

Charred fat and protein from a thick-cut steak are scrubbed clean by Nebbiolo's tannin and acidity, while the wine's red fruit and spice echo the sear. Keep the cut simple and let the Barolo lead.

Try with: Fiorentina steak · Ribeye steak · Sirloin steak · More pairings →

Salt balance Good match

Aged Alpine and hard cheeses

Mature, salty hard cheese softens the bite of tannin and meets the wine's savoury depth; Piedmont's own Castelmagno and well-aged Parmigiano are naturals. Skip soft, fresh cheeses that the tannin would flatten.

Try with: Castelmagno · Parmigiano Reggiano · Cheese board · More pairings →

Avoid Clash

Fiery chilli heat and delicate raw fish

High tannin amplifies chilli heat and turns metallic against delicate raw fish, while the wine's structure flattens light, sweet-spiced plates. Save Garretti for savoury, slow-cooked food rather than fierce spice or sushi.

Skip with: Vindaloo · Sweet-and-sour pork · Sushi · Oysters · Pairing guide →

Drinking + cellar

Cellaring the 2021 Garretti

Made in a fresher, used-oak style, Garretti is the earlier-drinking Barolo in the La Spinetta range, but 2021's firm tannin rewards patience. Store it on its side at 12 to 14C; the wine should hold and improve from 2026 towards the end of the 2030s.

Drinking window
2021: 2026 to 2040

Peak around 2030. For the main offer above.

Decanting
1 hour

A short splash decant softens the first-pour edge and opens the aromatics.

Serving temperature
16-18°C

Aim for the cooler end on a warm day; warmer end opens up more aromatics.

Cellar potential
High

DOCG ageing rules and firm 2021 tannin give real cellar potential to about 2040, tempered by Garretti's earlier-drinking house style.

Buy now or wait?
Buy now

£43.09 for a 75cl bottle of the 2021, at 8wines, is the best price we track, and we have no signal of further discounting.

Sources & trust

Sources behind this Barolo Garretti page

Prices & stock

Read directly from each retailer’s public product page several times a week. Last refresh: 6 Nov 2026, 05:34 BST. We do not hold stock and we do not accept payment for placement.

Confidence · High
Tasting notes

A style read drawn from the grape and the appellation, not from this exact bottle. We mark these notes openly so you know what you are reading.

Confidence · Medium
Appellation rules & ageing

From the official Italian disciplinare for this denomination, cross-checked against the Ministry of Agriculture register.

Confidence · High
Why it costs what it costs

Our reading of the price, from how this wine is made, the rules of its appellation, UK duty and VAT and the price shops charge for it today. Not a quote from the producer or a retailer.

Confidence · Medium
Drink window & cellar potential

The drinking years for the main offer apply to its 2021 vintage. Treat them as advice, not a forecast for the bottle in your hand.

Confidence · Medium
Related

Explore La Spinetta, Nebbiolo and Barolo

Producer
Azienda Agricola La Spinetta Piedmont
Grapes
Nebbiolo
Denomination
Barolo DOCG

Common Questions

A Barolo from La Spinetta, 100% Nebbiolo, the estate's more accessible Barolo bottling from the Grinzane Cavour area.

Classic Barolo of red cherry, rose, tar and spice with firm tannin and high acidity.

Drinks well from a few years after the vintage and holds well over a decade; decant when young.

Braised beef, game, mushroom and truffle dishes and aged cheese.

You May Also Appreciate

Affiliate disclosure. Some links above are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Editorial coverage, ratings and tasting notes are written independently and a retailer cannot pay to be listed or to be ranked higher.

How retailer prices are sourced. Prices and stock are read from each retailer’s public product page several times a week. Outbound buy links carry rel="nofollow sponsored noopener". The list is sorted by price; we do not accept payment for placement.

What we will never do. Imply we tasted a bottle when we didn’t. Imply stock when a retailer is out. Imply independence on links that are paid affiliate links.

La Spinetta Barolo Garretti