The 2017 Barolo Prapo parcel is 0.9 hectares at 350 meters elevation. With the highest proportion of limestone soils, it provides the most structure of the Schiavenza wines. The Prapo is more introverted aromatically, with licorice, balsamic, and baked cherry. The structure is balanced and firm, warranting time in cellar to soften its grip. Brooding with tobacco, cherry pit, and stony minerality, the Prapo is classic, dark fruited and grounded. Drink 2024-2042.

The 2017 Barolo Prapò is a wine of depth and baritone gravitas. Black cherry, melted road tar, cloves, leather and licorice endow the 2017 with quite a bit of complexity. This dense, potent Barolo needs time to unwind. A few hours of air does wonders here.

The Schiavenza 2017 Barolo Prapò is a mostly subdued wine in terms of aromas but a powerful wine in terms of mouthfeel (and its 15% alcohol content). The bouquet shows soft touches of cherry liqueur and dried blackberry that progress to smoke, tar and rusty nail. The wine is not especially intense in terms of its bouquet, but it does show a lot more intensity and determination to the palate with fine tannins and tight structure. Like the other releases from this estate, this 2017 vintage of 2,200 bottles is best suited for near and mid-term drinking, perhaps with a fatty liver pâté.

This Barolo is firm and linear, with assertive tannins making their presence felt early and lingering on. Menthol, leather, plum, fruitcake and iron flavors ply the rustic profile. Best from 2025 through 2042. 184 cases made, 75 cases imported.