Wine Advisor
M. Marengo, Barolo Brunate 2020
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
A note of iron or crushed stone lifts from the bouquet of the M. Marengo 2020 Barolo Brunate. After that, it shows a very firm and compact fruit profile with dark currant, licorice root, rosemary and cola. The more austere side of this celebrated vineyard comes through nicely in this hot vintage. The fruit is quite bold but not overripe. It needs more time in bottle to flesh out. Production is 5,000 bottles.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Aromas of strawberry, orange peel and cedar with dried flowers follow through to a medium body with solid and muscular tannins that run the length of the wine. Flexing. Spice, chocolate, strawberry and cedar at the end. Chewy. Needs time to soften but all here. Better after 2028.
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.
