2021 Marengo M. - Barolo DOCG Bricco delle Viole (750ml)
The Marengo family has been making Barolo in La Morra since 1899, and today Marco Marengo runs the estate with his son Stefano. Bricco delle Viole, the “hill of violets,” sits at about 450 meters, one of the highest crus in the Barolo commune. Marengo’s one-hectare, south-facing parcel was planted in 1955 and inherited through Marco’s mother’s side of the family, so these are seriously old vines on calcareous soils. Fermented with native yeasts and aged 24 months in French barriques, mostly neutral, it’s a tiny production of around 5,000 bottles. 2021 is a superb Barolo vintage, and this wine shows it: crushed flowers, violet, red currant, mint and sweet spice, with a full-bodied, savory palate, firm, grainy tannins and bright, lifted acidity. Intense yet elegant, built for the cellar. Pair with braised short ribs, tajarin with truffle or aged Castelmagno.