Marcarini Barolo Brunate 2019

Marcarini Barolo Brunate 2019 is a 750ml, 14.0% ABV single-vineyard Barolo DOCG made entirely from Nebbiolo grown in the prestigious Brunate cru. Marcarini has been labeling Brunate on its bottles since 1958, making the estate one of the earliest champions of single-vineyard Barolo — and the family still owns a considerable portion of this legendary hillside.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.0%  |  Origin: Barolo DOCG, Piedmont, Italy  |  100% Nebbiolo, Brunate Cru  |  Producer: Poderi Marcarini

Production & Heritage

Poderi Marcarini is a staunchly traditionalist estate based in La Morra, with deep roots in the Brunate vineyard spanning multiple generations. The 2019 was fermented on its skins at controlled temperatures for at least four weeks — a notably extended maceration — then held in stainless steel for two years before transferring to large 20–40 hectoliter Slavonian oak casks for an additional 24 months of aging. The wine is bottled without filtration and rests a further 12 months in bottle before release, allowing the tannins to integrate while preserving the raw character of Brunate's southwest-facing slopes.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with classic Brunate florals — dried rose petal and violet — then unfolds into darker layers of ripe cherry, plum, tobacco leaf, and sweet spice. Beneath that initial fruit sits a balsamic, mentholated thread alongside cinnamon and black pepper.

Taste: The entry is warm and generous, with concentrated red and dark berry fruit meeting a silky but authoritative tannic structure at mid-palate. Complex notes of licorice, menthol, and mountain hay emerge as the wine opens, revealing an imperious, noble depth typical of the Brunate vineyard in a strong vintage like 2019.

Finish: Long, intense, and velvety, with lingering tobacco, dried herbs, and sweet spice. The persistence is remarkable, trailing off with a delicate floral echo and fine-grained tannins that signal considerable aging potential.

How to Drink Marcarini Brunate

Serve at 60–65°F (16–18°C) and decant for at least an hour before drinking; this is a structured, traditional Barolo that rewards patience. A large-bowled Burgundy glass will help concentrate the complex aromatics. Given its stature, the Brunate 2019 is best enjoyed on its own or alongside rich, savory dishes rather than in cocktails — this is a wine built for the table and the cellar.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Italian wine collector or Nebbiolo devotee
• Anchoring a multi-vintage or multi-cru Barolo tasting
• Cellaring for 10–20+ years and opening on a milestone occasion
• Pairing with an elaborate Piedmontese dinner featuring braised meats and truffles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Marcarini Brunate taste like? It delivers concentrated red and dark berry fruit layered with rose petal, tobacco, licorice, menthol, and sweet spice, supported by silky yet firm tannins. The profile is warm and full, reflecting a traditional, extended-maceration approach to Nebbiolo.

How does Marcarini Brunate compare to Ceretto Barolo Brunate? Both wines come from the same Brunate cru, but Marcarini takes a more traditionalist path with longer maceration and aging exclusively in large Slavonian oak casks, while Ceretto tends to incorporate some French oak. Marcarini's style generally emphasizes structure and aromatic complexity over early approachability.

Is Marcarini Brunate good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a wine designed for contemplative drinking, ideally with a generous decant to allow its layered aromatics and firm tannins to fully express themselves.

Where is Marcarini Brunate made? Poderi Marcarini is located in La Morra within the Barolo DOCG zone of Piedmont, northwest Italy. The Brunate cru straddles the border of La Morra and the Barolo commune, with prized southwest-facing slopes at elevations around 300–400 meters.

What foods pair well with Marcarini Brunate? Braised beef or veal ossobuco, which mirrors the wine's rich depth; white truffle risotto, whose earthy aromatics complement the Nebbiolo's complexity; aged Parmigiano-Reggiano or Castelmagno cheese for a classic Piedmontese match; roasted lamb with rosemary, which bridges the wine's herbal and savory notes; and tajarin pasta with butter and sage for an elegant regional pairing.

What sizes does Marcarini Brunate come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Marcarini Brunate worth the price? Marcarini Brunate positions as a premium single-cru Barolo from one of the appellation's most respected vineyard sites, yet the estate's pricing has historically remained more accessible than some high-profile Brunate neighbors, representing strong value within the top tier of traditional Barolo.

Why Marcarini Brunate?

Few producers can claim the depth of history that Marcarini holds in Brunate — bottling this cru by name since 1958, years before single-vineyard designations became common in Barolo. The unfiltered, Slavonian-oak-aged 2019 vintage is a textbook expression of traditional winemaking from one of the appellation's great hillsides, where extended maceration extracts the full tannic architecture and aromatic range Nebbiolo can achieve. The 2019 growing season in Piedmont delivered balanced conditions that favored concentration without excess heat, and Marcarini's patient aging regimen — totaling roughly five years from harvest to release — ensures a wine that is structured enough to cellar for decades yet already layered with complexity. For collectors and enthusiasts seeking an authentic, terroir-driven Barolo from a historically significant site, this bottling stands as one of the most compelling examples of what Brunate can deliver.