Many view the red wines from Barolo as Italy’s best—so much so that they’re sometimes called the “King” of Italian wines. The Barolo DOCG area lies just southwest of Alba and includes the vineyards on the steep hills around the towns of Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d’Alba, Monforte d’Alba, and La Morra. It’s one of the small number of DOCG areas in Italy, sharing this status in northwestern Italy’s PIEDMONT region with ASTI, BARBARESCO, BRACHETTO D’ACQUI, GATTINARA, GAVI, and GHEMME. Like the Barbaresco DOCG, the grape used here is the NEBBIOLO. DOCG rules require Barolo wines to AGE for a minimum of 3 years, two of which must be in wooden barrels. RISERVA wines must have 5 years of aging. Young Barolos, which are tough, TANNIC, and need 5-plus years to SOFTEN, are somewhat of an acquired taste for most. Once they SOFTEN and open up, however, they’re RICH, full-bodied (see BODY), and COMPLEX and can have earthy, truffly, and CHOCOLATY characteristics with an aroma reminiscent of violets.