2016 Vietti Brunate, Barolo DOCG, Italy (750ml) VERITAS

TASTING NOTE:

This has a rather reserved nose with dried-herb, rosehip, potpourri and light cedary aromas, ahead of fragrant dried cherries. The palate has quite dense and smoothly rendered, ripe tannins that deliver a long, composed and approachable Barolo. Drink or hold.
– James Suckling, 95 pts

 The Barolo Brunate was not made in 2014 because of hail damage. Instead, all the fruit was diverted to the Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco instead. This newest release, the 2015 Barolo Brunate, definitely makes up for the lost ground. This is an explosive and absolutely exuberant expression of Nebbiolo from a vineyard site in La Morra near M. Marengo’s property. Vietti farms two parcels here, a higher side of the vineyard and a lower one (near Damilano and Ceretto). These lower parts of Brunate perform very nicely in the cooler vintages. Instead, this warm vintage expression puts a lot of its fruit depth and personality upfront in a confident and no-fuss manner. You absolutely know what you are getting here, even at the first sniff of the bouquet. The wine proceeds to open and blossom before your nose, offering dark fruit, rose, spice and a very linear mineral tone at the back. That linear flinty note is just terrific.
– Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, 95 pts

This savory red delivers balsamic aromas and flavors of wild rosemary, juniper, eucalyptus and tobacco, revolving around a core of cherry, strawberry, graphite and licorice notes. Firm and sinewy on the finish, with an aftertaste of ripe, sweet fruit. Excellent length. Best from 2023 through 2043.
– Wine Spectator, 94 pts