I’ve gotten snide remarks about TJ’s wines not being from a ‘real winery’, but I really don’t care, so here goes.

The 2020 Barolo is a light ruby with just a tinge of blue. Upon opening, it was tightly closed and very tannic, only showing a bit of leather on the nose. After decanting and letting it breathe for two hours, still leather plus dark fruits, a bit of black pepper, and forest floor. The tannins had softened considerably with exposure to air and the wine was nicely balanced with a good acidity. Lots of red fruit and a little spice on the palate. Medium finish.

This isn’t the most complex Barolo, but it was plenty tasty, paired really well with pizza, and compared favorably with Barolos I’ve paid twice as much, and more, for. At $20, the QPR is just about off the scale.