Renato Ratti Barolo "Marcenasco" DOCG 2019
(Piedmont, Italy) - [WE 95] [WA 94] [WS 93] [JS 93] [JD 93]

About the Winery: 

With a history that dates back to the 1960s, Renato Ratti has long been an innovator of Barolos in the Piedmont region, where he developed new techniques for Italian wines such as in-bottle refinement. Active in writing the rules and regulations for Alba which include the coveted DOCG label, Renato Ratti was one of the prime movers in bringing the wines of Piedmont and Italy to international prominence. Today the reins rest in the hands of his son Pietro and his nephew Massimo Martinelli.

About this wine:

Barolo is the absolute master of the table. It conquers the palate with the conviction of strength, harmony and fullness and holds its sway at length. Barolo Marcenasco has ancient origins. There are historical documents from the "Rigestum Comunis Albae" that bear witness to the cultivation of the Nebbiolo wine in the "Marcenascum" area already back in the 12th Century.Barolo Marcenasco is smooth, balanced, elegant and faithfully, best to drink between 6 to 12 years after the vintage.

100% Nebbiolo

A great wine for important dishes, red meats roasted on a spit or grilled, game, dishes of gourmet white and red meats and ripe cheeses. Garnet red. Fragrance with notes of licorice and tobacco. Full and elegant flavor.

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"This Barolo is defined by its purity of tart red fruits that interplay with more delicate aromas of dried flowers and savory spices. The palate is sturdy and structured with a solid core of ripe cherries mixed with dried tea leaves finishing with vibrant acidity." - Jeff Porter (Sep 2023)

94 Points - Wine Advocate:
"From vineyards just outside this modern winery with external wood paneling and sleek architectural lines at the bottom of the La Morra ascent, this is Ratti's best-known wine and also its biggest production with 70,000 bottles made. The 2019 Barolo Marcenasco shows the benefits of a stylistic rejigger that prizes subdued elegance and finesse. The wine is visibly leaner in appearance and it opens to ethereal tones of blue flower, dried cherry, blood orange and chalky mineral. These little tweaks have opened an exciting new chapter for Marcenasco." - Monica Larner (Aug 2023)

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A firm, elegant red marked by haunting aromas of rose, cherry and spices. Supple and beautifully balanced, with strawberry and cherry flavors shaded by underbrush and white pepper. Shows fine length, with a hint of licorice. Best from 2025 through 2042. 3,823 cases imported." - Bruce Sanderson (Oct 2023)

93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2019 Barolo Marcenasco is spiced and fragrant with cinnamon, fresh leather, red cherry, and clove. It is expressive through the palate, with wild berries, cedar, forest floor, and a well-balanced, ripe structure. Drink 2025-2040." (May 2023)

93 Points - James Suckling:
"This is very refined and integrated with lots of chewy tannins but they are melted into the wine. Flowers, strawberry and dried orange character. Some candied strawberry and watermelon, too. Drink after 2026." (Jun 2023)