Piedmont, Italy
Verduno Pelaverga DOC
| SKU | 381202 |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Type | Red |
| Varietal | Pelaverga Piccolo |
| Listing | Speculative |
| Case Config. | 6x750ml |
| Available In | BC |
Colour
Pale ruby with coral reflections and brilliant ruby highlights.
Aroma
Intense and spicy with flowers and wild strawberry mingled with pepper aroma and aromatic herbs.
Flavour
Very fresh and inviting, with lively spicy berry fruit supported by warm sour cherry raspberry acidity.
Food Pairing
Cured meats, cheeses, filled pasta (agnolotti), roasts, poultry and game.
More Info
Located in the commune of Verduno in the Barolo DOCG, Burlotto was established by Giovan Battista Burlotto, il Commendatore, in the mid-18th century, during which time it earned the distinguished titles of 'Supplier to the Savoy Royal Household' and 'The Only Supplier to the Duke of Abruzzi's Artic Expedition to the North Pole.' Burlotto distinguished himself by introducing the practice of selling bottled wine bearing his estate's name (in the manner of French chateaux) at a time when it was customary practice to sell wine in cask.
The G.B. Burlotto Winery has remained a family-run business where all aspects of winery operations are taken care of by owner, Marina Burlotto (il Commendatore's great-niece), her husband, Giuseppe Alessandria and their son, Fabio.
Jeb Dunnuck, May/2025
2023 -
"The 2023 Verduno Pelaverga is a lovely vintage that shows off the snappy, spicy notes of Pelaverga, with white pepper, fresh pomegranate, strawberry, fresh tarragon, and rocky earth. Medium-framed and light on its feet, without ever feeling austere, it has a silky texture and a bit of chalky saltiness on the finish. I enjoy this vintage quite a bit and fans of these wines should not miss this one." - Audrey Frick
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jan/2025
2023 -
"No one does Pelaverga better than Comm. G.B. Burlotto, an estate with a long history with this native Piedmont grape. Indeed, it was credited with bringing it back from extinction. The 2023 Verduno Pelaverga has all sorts of fun and contrasting quirks with redcurrant, white pepper, wasabi, peppermint and Christmas spice. The electric jolt you get with Pelaverga is not as strong as it could be in the cooler vintages, but this expression from the hot 2023 growing season shows great energy regardless." - Monica Larner
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Jan/2025
2023 -
"The 2023 Pelaverga Verduno is a very pretty, aromatic red. Kirsch, orange peel, mint, cinnamon, white pepper are all nicely lifted. Silky tannins wrap it together in style, conferring elegance and finesse. This is beautifully done."
Ian D'Agata Terroir Sense, Sep/2023
2022 -
"Dark red. Delicately flinty and ripe on the nose, with deep blackberry and red cherry aromas and notes of spice, licorice, cinnamon and tobacco. Full and rich but also bright, with red and dark berry flavors enlivened by juicy acidity and framed by supple tannins. Fresh, multilayered and long, with a lingering note of very pure red berry liqueur. Utterly delicious and already accessible. Roughly three hectares of vines were planted beginning in the 1970s through 2016, with two more vineyards in 2021 and 2023, facing east, west, south and northeast between 250-350 meters above sea level. The vineyards are located in Sut Jort, Boscatto, Lasagne, Rodasca (in the village of Verduno) and Cadia (in Roddi). The lands have different type of soil between the Fossil Marls of Sant’Agathe (in Lasagne, Rodasca e Cadia) and the Cassano Spinola Formation (Sut Jort and Boscatto). The youngest plantings are those of Rodasca, planted half to Pelaverga Piccolo and half to Nebbiolo. The winery makes about 30,000 bottles/year, and unlike most other Verduno pelaverga wines, sees some oak. The 2022 is stainless steel fermented and aged (70%) and the remaining 30% sees used (10 years+) large oak barrels. Drinking window: 2025-2033."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Apr/2024
2022 -
"Come here if you can't get enough of this fascinating Piedmont native grape. The Comm. G.B. Burlotto 2022 Verduno Pelaverga is so very pretty with crushed peppercorn, dried rose, tart berry fruit and violet. The wine's appearance is luminous and tinged with ruby brightness. This is such a special wine and a great value proposition. It trades character for complexity to an extent, but what you get in terms of personality really is superb. Production is 20,000 bottles."
Jeb Dunnuck, May/2024
2022 -
"The 2022 Verduno Pelaverga is pale ruby with an orange tinge and reveals spicy and lifted notes of white pepper, fresh cranberries, dried flowers, and dried strawberries. Medium-bodied, it floats on the palate with ripe strawberry fruit, ultra-fine tannins, and a clean finish. Served with a light chill, this is a wine that should disappear on the table. Drink it over the next several years."
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Nov/2023
2022 -
"The 2022 Pelaverga Verduno is classy, elegant and polished. In this vintage, the Pelaverga retains it typical light-bodied structure..."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Aug/2023
2021 -
"The Comm. G.B. Burlotto 2021 Verduno Pelaverga is a wonderful wine and so much fun. It opens to a bright ruby color with immediate aromas of white pepper, oregano and thyme that tickle your nose. Pelaverga is distinguished by these very zesty and punchy aromas. You could pair this wine with vitello tonnato (a local specialty), codfish, spicy sashimi and so much more. I suggest you serve it slightly chilled. This wine is always a special treat (and a terrific value too)."
Jeb Dunnuck, Apr/2023
2021 -
"The pale ruby 2021 Verduno Pelaverga has a brilliant reflective appearance and is lifted with notes of white pepper, wild strawberry, and wet stone. Medium-bodied, with fresh, attractive fruit through the palate as well as fine tannins, this approachable and easy-drinking red is perfectly served with a light chill. Drink over the next few years."
Wine Spectator, Apr/2023
2021 -
"Perfumed with rose and strawberry aromas, this red is a silky, fine expression of small red berries and flowers. Think of this more as a white wine, or a serious rosé, in terms of weight and profile."
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Nov/2022
2021 -
"The 2021 Pelaverga Verduno is classy and elegant to the core. Crushed red berry fruit, sweet floral notes and a kick of citrus are all laced together. Burlotto's silky, polished Pelaverga is about as good as it gets for this quirky variety. Aging in steel helped preserve quite a bit of freshness."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jun/2022
2020 -
"The 2020 Verduno Pelaverga is spicy and tight with those characteristic white pepper aromas that make it so much fun to drink and to discuss. The wine is lean on the palate, with plenty of easy freshness to keep the momentum and the conversation going. This is one of the best values to come out of Piedmont."
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Nov/2021
2020 -
"The 2020 Pelaverga Verduno is light, airy and gracious. Crushed raspberry, mint and white pepper are nicely lifted in this ethereal Pelaverga. The personality of the year and a bit of hail yielded an unusually light Pelaverga, even within the context of this wine."
Ian D'Agata, Terroir Sense, Jan/2022
2019 -
Ian D'Agata's Best Buy Italian Wines of 2021
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Aug/2019
2018 -
"The 2018 Pelaverga Verduno is another alluring wine in this range of entry-level offerings from Burlotto. Star anise, cinnamon, blood orange and sweet pipe tobacco give the 2018 lovely aromatic top notes. The expression of fruit and structure are both decidedly Nebbiolo-leaning in 2018, while there are also fewer of the vegetal notes that, in my view, can make Pelaverga overly quirky."
Wine & Spirits Magazine, Dec/2018
2017 -
"Brisk notes of Alpine herbs and orange peel accent this wine’s fresh cherry flavors. The sandy tannins and mouthwatering acidity give it a lithe frame, and a length that takes the wine into a savory, meaty finish."
Antonio Galloni’s Vinous, May/2019
2017 -
"The 2017 Pelaverga Verduno is exquisite. In this vintage, some of the more vegetal notes typical of Pelaverga have been cooked out by the warm, dry growing season, so the wine is a bit less varietally expressive than readers familiar with this wine and grape are likely to expect. Even so, the 2017 remains relatively light on its feet and gracious. Drink it over the next few years."
Wine & Spirits Magazine, Dec/2017
2016 -
"This feels fresh, its crunchy red-berry flavors accented by notes of basil and white pepper. It’s taut and lively, a terrific by-the-glass choice for antipasti."
Wine Spectator, Web Only 2018
2016 -
"This red combines soft, juicy cherry and berry fruit with loads of spice. Fresh and balanced, yet the overall impression is of mouthwatering berry flavors. Light tannins grace the finish. Drink now. 1,500 cases made."
Wine & Spirits Magazine, Dec/2016
2015 -
"Brisk acidity runs through this wine’s brambly red berry flavors, keeping the wine cool and balanced as notes of peppery spice emerge. The texture has a grippy minerality that makes it a particularly structured pelaverga."
Antonio Galloni’s Vinous, Feb/2017
2015 -
"The 2015 Pelaverga Verduno is another striking entry-level wine from Burlotto. Fragrant, mid-weight and gracious, the 2015 captures the lifted personality of Pelaverga with silky tannins and none of the awkward vegetal notes that are often found in this quirky Piedmontese variety."