In Memoriam: Cavaliere Accomasso, A Barolo Legend
For those who revere the soul of traditional Barolo, the name Accomasso has always been spoken with quiet reverence. Nestled in the sleepy hamlet of Via Annunziata in La Morra, the estate became a pilgrimage site for anyone seeking Nebbiolo in its purest, most untamed form. Last week, the wine world lost its fiery guardian: Cavaliere Accomasso, the indomitable patriarch, passed away—leaving behind a legacy as profound as the wines he crafted.
A Living Chapter of Barolo History
To visit Accomasso was to step into a living museum of Barolo tradition. The Cavaliere—stubborn, passionate, and utterly devoted—presided over his cellars with a watchful intensity. His methods were uncompromising: hand-harvested Nebbiolo, long fermentations, and aging in old, neutral casks. No barriques, no shortcuts—just the raw voice of the La Morra terroir.
In recent years, his grandson Lorenzo had taken up the mantle, trained meticulously by the Cavaliere himself. Their 2020 vintage yielded something special: a portion of Barolo was released early as Langhe Nebbiolo, a rare glimpse into the pedigree of this storied estate.
The Last Encounter
When we last visited in 2021, the Cavaliere was recovering from illness and could not receive us. Still, in typical fashion, he made sure we didn’t leave empty-handed—sending us off with a bottle of his “Rochette” and a copy of our Barolo MGA book. It was a small but meaningful gesture from a man who spoke most eloquently through his wines.
A Legacy That Endures
The Cavaliere is gone, but his spirit lives on in every bottle—wines of structure, wild roses, and iron-streaked earth, untouched by time or trend. To drink them is to taste Barolo as it once was, and as it should always be: fierce, untamed, and utterly alive.
Lorenzo now carries the weight of history, but the soul of Accomasso remains. The cellar still smells of old wood and fermenting grapes. The wines still demand patience. And somewhere in the hills of La Morra, the Cavaliere’s voice still echoes—a reminder that true greatness never fades.
Cavaliere was in recovery of COVID and would not receive us in 2021 but was kind enough to signify his “Rochette” bottle together with our Barolo MGA book.