Marco Marengo Barolo Brunate 2020

Marco Marengo Barolo Brunate 2020
Barolo DOCG — Piemonte, Italy

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Producer
"One of my favourite Barolos. Harmonious, complete, and complex. They do not aim to be ‘modern’ or ‘traditional’, they simply seek to express the terroir." — Pedro Parra, the world’s leading terroir expert, perfectly captures the spirit of Marco Marengo’s wines.

Marco, a trained biochemist, was called back by his father Mario to take over the family’s tiny winery beneath their home in La Morra, working with parcels in some of Barolo’s greatest crus. Today, everything is still handcrafted by Marco, his wife Jenny, and their son Stefano — a delight for hardcore Barolo lovers.

"The Marengo family has owned vines in the celebrated Brunate cru of La Morra since 1903. They are now blessed with two parcels right in the heart of what Pedro Parra calls the 'Grand Cru section' of Brunate. Some Nebbiolo vines in the precious lower parcel (0.14 ha) of fractured calcareous marl at 340 m were planted in 1942. In the upper parcel (just over 1 ha), with its deeper marl and clay soils at 380 m, vines date back to 1955." — Jancis Robinson

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Wine
The Barolo Brunate 2020 by Marco Marengo stands as one of the most authentic ambassadors of La Morra’s terroir, in the heart of the Langhe. Sourced from 50-year-old vines on the south-facing slope of the legendary Brunate Cru, this Nebbiolo offers a pure expression of place: complex, austere, sensual.

The marl-rich, clay-limestone soils yield a Barolo of profound structure with firm yet elegant tannins. Following a traditional fermentation with indigenous yeasts and extended maceration, the wine matures for 24 months in French oak barrels (30% new), and is bottled unfiltered to preserve fruit integrity and terroir character.

Brunate is among the most celebrated Barolo crus — and in the hands of Marco Marengo, it displays a style that is both classical and contemporary: concentration, verticality, and perfect balance.

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Technical Profile
Producer: Marco Marengo
Region: Piemonte — La Morra
Appellation: Barolo DOCG
Cru: Brunate
Vintage: 2020
Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
Vine Age: ~50 years
Exposure: South-facing
Soil: Clay-limestone marls

Vinification:
• Indigenous yeast fermentation
• Traditional maceration

Ageing:
• 24 months in French oak barrels (30% new)
• Bottled unfiltered

Alcohol: 14.5% vol.
Production: Limited

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Tasting Notes
Enticing layers of black cherry, tobacco, rose petals, liquorice, and earthy notes on the nose. On the palate, the wine is structured and firm, with polished tannins, natural freshness, and a long, mineral finish. A soulful and precise Barolo, built to age gracefully in the cellar.

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Pairing Suggestions
Ideal with ossobuco, truffle risotto, duck confit, aged meats, or cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino.

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Score:
95 points — Robert Parker Wine Advocate

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