Brunate! One of the best MGA´s, IMHO.
28,34 ha planted with 99,7%nebbiolo and a and 0,3% of Barbera! The major part of Brunate lies in La Morra (68%) and the rest in Barolo (32%).
There are currently 14 producers that makes a Brunate and a week ago The Barolo Boys tasted one Brunate from all producers. The only Brunate that wasn´t poured was Marengo´s Riserva, but their classico was present.
This is how it went.
Below I have supplemented notes from my visits to the nine producers of the fourteen I have visited.
Flight I - all wines except Marcarini got a vote for the wine in the flight. Marengo got two. I had Rinaldi as my favourite (the others tasted semi blind, I tasted open).
2006 Barolo Brunate, Marcarini
A big, warm, forest filled nose with notes of Finnish licorice, rosehips, leather and mushrooms. Very, very good.
The taste is round and mature with notes of dried cherries, licorice, ink and leather. A very fine warmth.
90p (tasted 2024/07)
2010 Barolo Brunate, Francesco Rinaldi
A high, energetic nose with notes of hard cherry candy, roses, iron and bakelite. Very intense and fine.
The taste is young and structured with silky tannins and a beautiful cherry fruit. Seedy and very fine. 6+ years. My number 2 Brunate of all.
96p (tasted 2024/07)
2004 Barolo Brunate, Vietti
An open, warm, rich nose with notes of sugared coffee, ripe cherries, tobacco and stables. Steady and very fine.
The taste is rich and concentrated with polished tannins, plush cherry fruit, scorched earth and a long, yummy finish. Starting to mature. Great wine.
95p (tasted 2024/07)
2004 Barolo Brunate, M. Marengo
An open for business nose with depth, ripe cherry fruit and additional notes of sugared coffee, rosehips and lots ot moist forest floor.
The taste is tighter than the leads on, with notes of iron, powder coffee, paint and fir wood. Very long and fine.
93p (tasted 2024/07)
2011 Barolo Brunate, Roberto Voerzio
A tight, restrained nose with notes of scorched earth, hard cherry candy, a touch of mint and new leather.
The taste is tight and intense with a fine focus and concentration. Some oak in the finish. The oak disappeared to day two. Very fine.
93p (tasted 2024/07)
Flight II - Rinaldi got all five votes for best wine in this flight.
2013 Barolo Brunate, Flavio Saglietti
A fine, open nose with notes of orange peel, coffee powder, forest floor and dried cherries. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and elegant with notes of hard cherry candy, black tea and forest floor. Balanced and fine. 5+ years.
92p (tasted 2024/07)
2013 Barolo Brunate, Oddero
A young, tight nose with notes of sweet/sour cherries, fir wood, rosehips and a touch of mint. Definitely som new oak aroma.
The taste is seedy and structured with notes of iron, ripe cherries and fir wood. Stern tannins. 8+ years.
89p (tasted 2024/07)
2013 Barolo Brunate, Damilano
A darkly perfumed, restrained nose with notes of damsons, licorice, mushrooms and hints of tobacco.
The taste is seedy and a tad foursquare with notes of dried cherries, ink, rosehips and tobacco. Maybe a few years in the cellar will help.
86p (tasted 2024/07)
2013 Barolo Brunate, Giuseppe Rinaldi
A tight, handsome nose with notes of hard cherry candy, rosehips, paint and cap gun smoke. Layered and very fine.
The taste is racy and refined with gorgeous cherry fruit, silky tannins and a perfect balance. This is brilliant. Still young, 7+ years. Great wine. Best wine of all in my opion.
97p (tasted 2024/07)
Flight III - Cerretto got three and Boglietti two votes for best wine in this flight.
2014 Barolo Brunate, Batasiolo
A tad compact but nice enough nose with notes of dried cherries, dried flowers and banana peel.
The taste is cool and fine with some maturity, dried strawberries, gravel and rosehips.
85p (tasted 2024/07)
2015 Barolo Brunate, Enzo Boglietti
A deep, velvety nose with notes of ripe red currants, smoke, asphalt and a fine balsamic note. Very fine.
The taste is tight and structured with lovely cherry fruit, polished tannins and a long, juicy finish. A very fine balance.
94p (tasted 2024/07)
2017 Barolo Brunate, Claudio Boggione
A fine, open nose with notes of sage, red currants, paint and tobacco. Very, very good in a upfront way.
The taste is medium bodied, nicely structured but a tad light in the finish. Very good red fruit.
89p (tasted 2024/07)
2018 Barolo Brunate, Ceretto
A silky, layered, almost Burgundian nose with notes of ripe strawberries, matchbox, earth and rosehips. Very fine.
The taste is racy and refined with notes of smoke, wild strawberries, ripe flowers and tobacco. Very long and lingering. Beautiful.
94p (tasted 2024/07)
2019 Barolo Brunate, Francesco Borgogno
A large scaled, warm nose with notes of cooked cherries, asphalt, iron and Lange earth. Very young.
The taste is tight and nicely concentrated with sandy tannins, warm cherry fruit and some oaky notes, which had disappeared the next day. Needs 6+ years.
89p (tasted 2024/07)
Notes from visits:
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