Marcarini Barolo "Brunate" DOCG 2018
(Piedmont, Italy) - [WE 94] [JS 94] [VM 93]

About the Winery:

Poderi Marcarini can trace its roots back to in the mid-1800s, when Giuseppe Tarditi established his winery in La Morra, in the heart of the village. Since 1990, it has been owned and managed by Manuel Marchetti, widower to Giuseppe's great, great, granddaughter, the late Luisa Bava. Just recently, 6th generation Elisa joined the winery after completing her degree in viticulture and enology.

The estate was one of the very first in the area to designate single vineyards on its labels, as early as 1950 - specifically their two celebrated, contiguous crus, Brunate and La Serra. The Nebbiolo grapes for these Baroli are grown within the estate's original nucleus, high on the rolling terroir of La Morra. The La Serra is perfumed, breezy and ethereal, with incense and notes of dried grass while the Brunate is more muscular, brooding and intense, and far more demanding and complex in its youth.

Notes from the Winemaker:

Barolo is without a doubt the noblest creation of the nebbiolo grape, and in Marcarini's Brunate selection it finds one of its highest quality expressions. For several generations, our family has owned a considerable part of the Brunate vineyards; Brunate has been recognized as one of the Langhe's most important cru zones since the 1300s, and today is officially recognized as a Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva. This precious denomination has been indicated on our bottles since 1958.

Tasting Notes:
Barolo Brunate has a magnificent garnet-red color with intense ruby-red reflections, of correct intensity and tonality. The nose is composite, rich, full and persistent, with hints of vanilla, sweet spices, tobacco, mountain hay and underbrush. Impressive taste sensations reveal the wine's imperious, noble, warm and velvety character, and the flavor is long and intense.
To be served in crystal glasses with very large bowls.

Winemaking:
As far as wine production methods are concerned, we are proud to call ourselves 'traditionalists'. We aim to be rigorous and demanding during our work in the vineyard, have a low yield per hectare, harvest the grapes when they are completely and perfectly ripe, and carefully select the grape bunches utilized in vinification.

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points – Wine Enthusiast

Red berries emerge from the glass, offering hints of preserved and jammed fruits, rosewood and underbrush. The palate is stacked with cherries, raspberries, a touch of orange rind, and bay leaf notes. Fine yet firm tannins accompany mouthwatering acidity, leading to a finish of tobacco and earth. Drink now–2040.” - Jeff Porter (Dec 2023)

94 Points – James Suckling

“Notes of sweet spices, orange peel, red cherries, raspberries and red flowers. Medium-bodied with slightly chewy but ripe tannins framing the vivid red fruit core. Lingering finish. Try after 2026.” – (June 2023)

93 Points – Vinous Media

“The 2018 Barolo Brunate is a powerful, broad wine packed with deeply-pitched spice and balsamic notes that are so typical of this site. Dark cherry/plum fruit, leather, spice, menthol, incense and dried herbs fill out the layers. There's plenty of Brunate intensity and volume, but the 2018 should drink well with just a few years in bottle. (Drink between 2025-2038).” – Antonio Galloni (Jan 2023)

17.5 Points – Jancis Robinson

“Just mid ruby. Ethereal raspberry-fruit nose with hints of exotic spice and camphor. Polished yet very slow to open up. Monolithic yet elegant at the same time. The fantastic balance only shows itself to the full on the finish. A triumph for the vintage.” – Walter Speller (May 2023)