Wine Advisor
Parusso, Barolo Bussia 2016
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Description
Armando Parusso, Barolo, Bussia Special, Piedmont, Italy, Still, Red, 2007
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Wild strawberries and plums with spices, dried flowers and hazelnuts. It’s full-bodied, yet tight, fine and focused with lovely balance and finesse. Drink or hold.
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
This is one of the most important single-vineyard expressions from Marco and Tiziana Parusso, a formidable brother and sister team whose winery is located at the edge of Monforte d'Alba on the road to Castiglione Falletto. Their 2016 Barolo Bussia is a dark and brooding expression with some of those aromas of Nebbiolo stems and skins that give extra power and density to the wine. I'd suggest a pairing of succulent red meat, but you definitely need to put this wine aside for more time. This classic vintage is especially well suited to cellar aging. The structure of this Bussia is a tiny bit more pliant and approachable compared to the more astringent Mosconi.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Marco Parusso's 2016 Barolo Bussia brings together all the best elements of his style and year in a wine that is simply brilliant. Sweet floral notes, dark red fruit, mint, blood orange and spice infuse the 2016 with myriad layers of complexity. A bold, dramatic Barolo made from Rocche and Munie fruit, the 2016 is going to need a number of years to be at its best.
About the Producer
Parusso is a Piemontese wine producer particularly known for its Barolo wines from the Nebbiolo grape variety. The wines have the reputation of combining approachability on release with the ageability typical of the appellation. The estate dates back to 1901 when Gaspare Parusso bought his first vineyard, a plot in Mariondino. In 1925, the family bought the Rovella farmhouse in Bussia where the cellars are now situated, although the first wines under the Parusso label were not released until 1971. In 1989, Parusso bought the Munie vineyard in Bussia. Today, there are 22 hectares (54 acres) of estate vineyards throughout the Barolo region. This includes plots in several of the Barolo cru vineyards, including Le Coste, Mariondino and Mosconi, as well as Bussia. These provide a range of terroirs, covering chalky marl to more sandstone-dominated plots. Each plot is carefully mapped so it can be tended effectively. Green harvests are used to limit yields. Parusso's portfolio is headed by two Riserva Barolo wines, Oro (from Bussia fruit) and Argento (from several villages). There is also a range of Barolo Cru wines from the estate's cru vineyards, as well as a standard Barolo and a Langhe Nebbiolo. Parusso makes wines under several other DOCG and regional titles, including Barbera d'Alba, Dolcetto d'Alba, and several white and sparkling wines under the Langhe designation. Around 120,000 bottles are produced per year. Red winemaking at Parusso tends towards the modern, with all reds except for the Dolcetto aged in small oak barrels. The generic and Cru Barolo spend 24 months in oak, while the Riserva wines spend 30 months.
