Wine Advisor
M. Marengo, Barolo Brunate 2019
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
The 2019 Barolo Brunate is a fleshy and hearty Nebbiolo with ample structure and staying power. The bouquet offers dark fruit, candied plum, blue flower, spice and rusty mineral. There is a hint of rosemary sprig or forest bramble as well. Brunate ends with almost metallic-like notes that are characteristic of this vineyard cru, and the wine has plenty of structure to carry it through more years of bottle age. Production is 6,000 bottles.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
This is earthy and spiced yet fresh and red-fruited at the same time, with cherries and peach skins as well as dried flowers and decomposed wood undertones. Impressive complexity and structure with medium to full body and densely packed, fine tannins. Balanced and long. Try after 2027.
About the Producer
M. Marengo is a 6 hectare (15 acre) estate in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. The Marengo family founded the estate in 1899 and today it is known for its portfolio of wines from the appellations of Barolo, Barbera d'Alba, Dolcetto d'Alba and Nebbiolo d'Alba. The majority of the M. Marengo vineyards are planted to Nebbiolo for the production of the estate's portfolio of Barolo wines. Approximately 2ha (5 acres) of Nebbiolo vines are divided almost equally between Le Brunate and Bricco delle Viole, two of the key "cru" vineyards in Barolo. Both crus have south-facing exposures with clay-rich soils and are the source of M. Marengo's two single-vineyard, 100-percent Nebbiolo Barolos. The Marengo family first bottled its Brunate Barolo in 1974 and the inaugural vintage of Bricco delle Viole Barolo was released in 1997. M. Marengo also makes Brunate Riserva (previously known as Vecchie Vigne Brunate) from the vineyard's oldest vines, which were planted in 1940. There is also a multi-vineyard Barolo from two vineyard plots in La Morra. The Dolcetto and Barbera d'Alba wines are made exclusively from Dolcetto and Barbera grapes, respectively, that are cultivated in small vineyard holdings in Castiglion Falletto. The single-vineyard Nebbiolo d'Alba, Valmaggiore, is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo grapes cultivated in the vineyard by the same name. M. Marengo was certified organic in 2012 and employs sustainable viticultural approaches in its vineyards.