The 2018 Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera is a noteworthy expression of Nebbiolo from the renowned Barolo region of Piedmont, Italy. This red wine, produced by Elvio Cogno, showcases a robust 14.5% alcohol content and is sealed with a cork closure. Its production hails from 70-year-old vines and involves aging for 24 months in large untoasted Slavonian oak barrels, as highlighted by Decanter.

Decanter awarded this wine a score of 94, describing it as having "mostly floral aromas of rose, violet and pot pourri, with strawberry and darker fruits allied to the vibrancy of a balsamic whiff." The palate reveals a "savoury blood orange flavour" complemented by "ripe and dusty tannins with great extraction on the mid-palate, crisp acidity and the fruit concentration to achieve an amazing balance."

James Suckling also praised the 2018 Barolo Ravera with a score of 93, noting its "nice complexity" with aromas of "red cherry, walnut shell and pungent earth" and hints of pressed flowers. He described the palate as "medium-bodied with lightly firm, velvety tannins and a very tightly wound core of fruit and tannin," acknowledging the wine's potential for positive development over time.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave the wine another 94 points, emphasizing its resilience in a challenging vintage. The review pointed out the wine's "small-berry detailing with rust and crushed stone at the back" and a "point of bitterness that accompanies the tannins of this full-bodied wine."

Wine & Spirits rated it the highest with 95 points, highlighting its "early exuberance in its red-cherry and raspberry flavors heightened by scents of rose petals and balsamic herbs." The tannins are noted to be "softer and rounder in this vintage," with complex spice notes added by including some stems in the fermentation process.

Wine Spectator also awarded it 94 points, appreciating its "alluring" flavors of "strawberry, cherry and currant" with details of "iron, tar and tobacco." The wine starts "silky in texture, then the structure sneaks up on you as this red builds to a long finish."

Wine Enthusiast gave the wine an impressive 97 points, calling it a "stunner" with "enticing scents of perfumed berry, dark spice, eucalyptus, violet and forest floor." The palate is described as "elegant and structured," with "juicy red cherry, raspberry compote, star anise and wild mint."

Lastly, Vinous rated the wine 92 points, describing it as "powerful, rustic" with flavors of "wild cherry, cedar, leather, orange zest, tobacco, herbs, menthol, iron and game." Antonio Galloni noted that the wine is "assertive" and may always retain a "rustic" character, albeit with "good depth and tons of Nebbiolo complexity."

In summary, the 2018 Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera is a complex, robust wine with a strong potential for aging, earning high praise across major wine publications.