No visit to Piedmont is complete until visits are made to Marengo and Luigi Pira.
Disclaimer - the importer of Marengo and Luigi Pira to Sweden (Origo Wines) are friends of mine and co founders of the illustrious Barolo Boys. I however have no financial interests in these wines, I just call them as I see them.
Luigi Pira
2022 Dolcetto d´Alba
A stony, iron filled, salivating nose with notes of damsons, cool bluberries and violets.
The taste is young and energetic with silky tannins and notes of damsons, violets and gravel. Very, very good.
88p (tasted 2023/01)
2021 Barbera d´Alba Superiore
A deep, earthy, somewhat meaty nose with notes of dried raspberries, smoke and licorice.
The taste is big and fruity with a fine acidity and notes of dried raspberries, warm sand and herbs. Tight and good.
88p (tasted 2023/01)
2021 Langhe Nebbiolo
A very fine LB. The nose is open and juicy with notes of cherries, forest floor, smoke and minerals.
The taste is tight and refined with notes of hard cherry candy, asphalt and rosehips. A very fine structure.
91p (tasted 2023/01)
2019 Barolo Del Commune di Serralunga
A pure, fine nose with notes of ripe black cherries, asphalt, chrushed rocks and violets. Very fine.
The taste is taut, yet silky and fine with polished tannins and a great cherry fruit paired with notes of damsons, asphalt and cherry licorice. 6+ years.
92p (tasted 2023/01)
2019 Barolo Margheria
A very handsome, racy nose with notes of ripe flowers, smoke, a hint of tobacco and a wonderful mix of raspberries and cherries. Very deep. Lovely.
The taste is cool and collected with sandy tannins and brilliant cherry fruit. A long, long, velvety finish where the tannins lurk in the background. 7+ years.
95p (tasted 2023/01)
2019 Barolo Marenca
The Marenca is always tougher than the Margheria, so also in the 2019 versions. But equally great, although I usually prefer Margheria in their youth. The nose is very deep and taut with notes of iron, black cherries, hard cherry candy and a ever so slight hint of mint. Again, lovely.
The taste is very tight and focused with notes of black cherries, sweet minerals, iron and dark violets. A minute long finish. 10+ years.
95p (tasted 2023/01)
2019 Barolo Vigna Rionda
As always, a masterpiece. The nose is bottomless deep with a extraordinary purity and balance. Gorgeous notes of violets, hard cherry candy, iron and menthol. Very handsome.
The taste is expressive, pure and racy with everything except (of course) maturity in place. Another stunner from Gianpaolo. 12+ years.
98p (tasted 2023/01)
Marengo
Lunch at Marengo´s, life is good! We brought some leftovers from our visit to Osteria Veglio the night before - Barolista: Food & Wine In Piedmont and Jenny and Marco put some yummy food on the table and two great bottles.
2013 Barolo Brunate
A very fine, deep nose with notes of forest floor, licorice, tobacco and a wealth of juicy cherries. Very fine.
The taste is still young with a focus on silky tannins and hard cherry candy. Notes of licorice, earth and tobacco in the finish. 6+ years.
93p (tasted 2023/01)
2007 Dolcetto d´Alba
We got to talk about Dolcetto and Marco fetched this bottle from the cellar. We weren´t close guessing its age...
The nose is spicy and perky with notes of dried blueberries, earth and iron. A cool finish. 15 years old and could still develop, impressive.
88p (tasted 2023/01)
Later the same day we went to Marengo´s winery and tasted the wines below.
2022 Dolcetto d´Alba
A open, juciy nose with notes of damsons, blueberries, cool licorice and gravel. Very nice.
The taste is young and tight with a fine blueberry fruit, lots of violets and silky tannins.
87p (tasted 2023/01)
2021 Barbera d´Alba Vigna Pugnane
A deep, fine nose with notes of salt licorice, earth and ripe raspberries. A fine warmth.
The taste is open and fruity with notes of raspberry licorice, herbs and earth. A fine acidity. Long and very, very good.
90p (tasted 2023/01)
2021 Langhe Nebbiolo
A cool, handsome nose with notes of red cherries, ripe tomatoes, rosehips and asphalt. Elegant.
The taste is laid back and stony with notes of cherries, dried flowers and asphalt.
88p (tasted 2023/01)
2021 Nebbiolo d´Alba Vigna Valmaggiore
A very deep, focused nose with notes of ripe cherries, smoke, rosehips and Langhe earth. Very fine.
The taste is tight and nicely structured with silky tannins, a lovely cherry fruit and a long, long taut finish. 6+ years.
92p (tasted 2023/01)
2019 Barolo
A laid back, refined nose with notes of fresh herbs, raspberries, ripe flowers and a fine perfumed scent.
The taste is cool and structured with notes of wild raspberries, asphalt, earth and dried flowers. Very fine tannins. Excellent. 6+ years.
92p (tasted 2023/01)
2019 Barolo Bricco Delle Viole
A lovely, high and intense nose with notes of violets (!), ripe red cherries, mahogany and warm sand. Very fine.
The taste is distinct and racy with notes of ripe red cherries, dried flowers, violets and dry licorice. 8+ years.
95p (tasted 2023/01)
2019 Barolo Brunate
A dery deep, tight nose with notes of black olives, herbs, asphalt and a wealth of black cherries. Very refined.
The taste is taut and complex with broadshouldered tannins, boatloads of black cherries and additional notes of rosehips, licorice and Langhe earth. 10+ years.
95p (tasted 2023/01)
2017 Barolo Riserva Brunate
A deep, energetic nose with notes of ripe cherries, paint, tobacco, earth and dried flowers. A very fine warmth. Gorgeous.
The taste is restrained and refined with notes of dried cherries, tobacco, forest floor and rosehips. Very, very long. Very, very fine. 8+ years.
96p (tasted 2023/01)
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