Before I dive into the actual topic of this article, Marengo Barolo 2019, I need to make one thing clear. I do not consider myself a wine critic. If we go by Wikipedia’s definition of the word, I guess I technically could be called a wine critic. But I’d rather consider myself a wine lover, on a mission to help people drink good wines. I try to tell stories. About the winemakers. About the wines. Yes, I do write tasting notes. But when I do, I try to accompany those notes with some background information and perhaps a few anecdotes. I do this to try and give you the bigger picture. Not just my subjective opinions about the wines.
Which brings me to another point. If I taste a wine that I don’t like, I don’t write about it. If, for whatever reason, I don’t like a wine, I leave it alone. And there could be many reasons why I don’t like a wine. Maybe it was a bad bottle. Maybe there was something wrong with the wine. Or maybe I just didn’t like it. It wasn’t for me. It could also be that the wine was bad. Because there are wines out there that are bad. But who am I to tell the world that? Now, I understand that it’s a wine critics job to critique wine. But when I was little I learned that “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” This is especially true if what you say can affect someone’s life. Someone’s livelihood.
Some friends of mine recently received a particularly bad review of some of their wines. I won’t spend much time on that, but when I read that review I knew I had to taste those wines for myself to see they really were as bad as they were made out to be. And spoiler alert, they absolutely were not! My friends, Jenny and Marco, make excellent wines, and the 2019 Barolo’s are no different. I was also happy to see that Jancis Robinsons agrees with me, in her Financial Times article.
Jenny and Marco Marengo
Jenny and Marco Marengo are warm and generous people, who are very passionate about their wines. Together with their son, Stefano, the three of them work enthusiastically together in the pursuit of excellent winemaking. Marco really is a nerd, in the modern, positive, definition of the word. The same way Bill Gates is often referred to as a nerd, an expert and enthusiast, and obsessed with intellectual pursuit of winemaking.
And without further ado, here are my tasting notes on the Marengo Barolo 2019:
Marengo Barolo 2019
The classic Barolo has an intense nose with aromas of red fruit, flowers, tobacco and a hint of spices. The tannins are smooth. Round in the mouth, with good balance and quite long finish.
Marengo Barolo Bricco Delle Viole 2019
Beautiful nose on the Bricco Delle Viole. More explosive than intense. A bit more floral and fruity than the classic Barolo. Bigger tannins, but still smooth. A balanced, beautiful wine.
Marengo Barolo Brunate 2019
The Brunate was, not surprisingly, a bit more complex than the other two. Beautiful nose with aromas of red fruit and spices, with a hint of floral notes. Bigger tannins, more structure, yet smooth. Good balance with a long finish.
Barolo 2018 – delicious or disappointing? That is the question. But we’ll dig into that a little later. First, let’s look at some facts. As a stark contrast to 2017, which was very dry, 2018 was quite rainy. There were 62 days of rain during the growing season, just like 2014, which was considered one of the rainiest years of all time. But a few things distinguish 2014 from 2018, including the temperature. The temperature was on average higher in 2018 compared to 2014, especially towards the end of the growing season.
So what does all this mean? Well, first of all, too much rain leads to a lot of work in the vineyards. All that humidity creates perfect conditions for downy mildew, a fungus growing on the grapes. The winmakers combat this by spraying copper sulfate, but they basically have to spray after every rainfall. If you have half a hectare, that’s probably not too big a deal, but when you have three, five, or 14, it’s a lot of work.
The heavy rain combined with the high temperatures, also means quite a lot of growth in the vineyards. Which in turn meant they had to be vigilant about managing their vineyards. I think that’s really the key in any vintage: work in the vineyard. Fabio from Burlotto prefers to call himself a “winegrower” and not a “winemaker”, because he first and foremost considers himself a farmer. And when you pay a lot of attention in the vineyards, “it’s difficult to have a bad vintage.”[i] And I agree. In my experience, a good winemaker will make good wines in every vintage. And so in some vintages, like 2018, my advice would be to chose the winemaker and not the wine, if that makes sense.
Langhe July 2018
Barolo 2018 – many different opinions
I am not the first to share some thoughts on Barolo 2018. There have been split “reviews” on this vintage, both from the winemakers and from the wine reviewers. Some are on the more dramatic side, to the point of almost condemning the vintage. Others bear a more hopeful tone, highlighting that despite the difficulties of the vintage, the resulting wines are actually of higher quality than excepted.
Galloni said it’s “the most erratic, frustratingly inconsistent Barolo vintage” he has ever encountered. [ii]
Masnaghetti, a great source of information when it comes to Langhe, and the godfather of the Barolo maps, wrote this in his Barolo 2018 Vintage report: “In the history of Barolo, and not merely of Barolo, the vintages which presented themselves at their origin as problematical have been anything but rare. But, in a hypothetical classification of all the vintages, very few would be able to rival 2018.”[iii] But although the season was difficult, he thinks the wines will be “classified in the future as of good level.”
Joshua Dunning, the talent behind Word On The Grapevine, called the vintage a “tangram”. If you had to google that word, don’t worry, I did too. A tangram is “a Chinese puzzle made by cutting a square of thin material into five triangles, a square, and a rhomboid which are capable of being recombined in many different figures”. [iv] And I think it’s a fairly spot on description. He goes on to say that “challenges notwithstanding, the finished wines are an altogether more positive picture than their contributory climatic components might suggest.”[v]
Davy Żyw from Berry Bro’s and Rudd dared to say that the Barolo 2018 has “a Pinot Noir-style personality.”[vi] The same comparison was made by Fabio Alessandria when I visited him November 2021. Davy Żyw made some good points in his Barolo 2018 Vintage Report, including that the “best wines of the ’18 vintage showcase the strength of this multifaceted and extraordinary terroir, elegantly choreographed and infused by an equal sense of calm and place.”
Now, some of you might be waiting for Piemontegirl’s opinion on Barolo 2018. I have to start by saying that I believe there is not such thing as a bad vintage. However, I do believe there are bad wines. I think there is a difference between the two. What is it that they say? The proof is in the pudding? Well, in this case, the wine… There are so many really good 2018 Barolo’s out there. Floral. Fruity. Balanced. Elegant. Crisp. Wow. Beautiful. Incredible. These are only some of the words I used to describe Barolo 2018. And so yes, the growing season was difficult. And yes, overall this vintage might lack some structure compared to 2017, 2016 and 2015. But there are plenty of good Barolo’s out there. You just have to find them.
Here are some of my favorites:
Barolo 2018 Tasting Notes
Bruna Grimaldi Barolo Bricco Ambrogio 2018
A classic nose, floral and fruity. Silky tannins. A very approachable Barolo.
Bruna Grimaldi Barolo Badarina 2018
A slightly vegetal and austere wine. Aromas of red fruit, leather and balsamic. Good structure.
Burlotto Barolo 2018
Masculine nose with aromas of leather and tobacco, but still fruity and quite approachable. A gentle and elegant wine.
Burlotto Barolo Acclivi 2018
The Acclivi is a bit deeper than the Classico. So elegant in the mouth with a very gentle structure. Fruity and crisp, with a long finish.
Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero 2018
Incredible nose with aromas of white pepper and red fruit, with a hint of spice. It was actually a bit spicy in the mouth as well. A very distinctive wine with a lot of personality.
Burlotto Barolo Cannubi 2018
With the Cannubi, the word elegance springs to mind. Elegant nose, elegant tannins, elegant structure. If I were to pick a wine to demonstrate how a Barolo should smell, this one would be a perfect example.
Chiara Boschis Barolo Cannubi 2018
I kid you not, my notes actually say “holy shit”. What a nose! Crisp, mineral, complex, rich, beautiful, feminine. There are aromas of tar and roses. Good depth and long finish. Chiara herself describes the Cannubi as “a kind wine”. And I can’t argue with that.
Chiara Boschis Barolo Via Nuova 2018
The Via Nuova is a bit more austere. A fruity and balanced wine. I agree with Chiara that the 2018 Barolo’s are more Burgundian than other recent vintages.
Chiara Boschis Barolo Mosconi 2018
I guess the word I’d use about Mosconi is “more”. More complex nose, more masculine, more spices, more structure. There are also hints of orange, apricot, peach and white pepper in this wine.
Cristian Boffa Barolo 2018
A delicate and balanced Barolo, with aromas of red fruit and strawberry. Long finish, with round, sweet tannins. A very good Barolo!
Diego Morra Barolo Zinzasco 2018
Beautiful nose with aromas of fruit, flowers and white pepper. Round tannins and good body. A wine with quite a lot of depth.
Diego Morra Barolo Monvigliero 2018
Floral aromas with hints of white pepper. A very good wine with good structure. Might need some time to open up fully.
Fratelli Revello Barolo Gattera 2018
The Revello Gattera has aromas of red fruit, liquorice and roses. It’s an elegant wine with soft tannins.
Marengo Barolo Bricco Delle Viole 2018
Wow! What an incredible nose. So floral and fruity, yet complex. Smooth tannins. Easy to drink.
Marengo Barolo Brunate 2018
Tried this straight from the tank, before it went into the bottle. A beautiful wine. Complex nose with aromas of leather, tobacco and a hint of chocolate. Good balance and structure. Long finish. balance.
Marengo Barolo Riserva 2018
“Very young, but so good.” Enough said. Or maybe not, but that’s all my notes said…
Nadia Curto Barolo La Foia 2018
Amazing nose with aromas of roses, red fruit and a hint of tar? Good body with round, smooth tannins.
Nadia Curto Barolo Arborina 2018
The Arborina might be a bit more complex than the La Foia. More leather, tobacco and spice aromas. More powerful, more intense. This might be due to the south exposure and long extraction.
Paolo Giordano Barolo 2018
I was really impressed by this wine. Good structure, but still easy to drink. Round, well integrated tannins. And it really opened up in the glass.
Roberto Voerzio Barolo Del Comune de La Morra 2018
A complex wine with a good nose. Aromas of spices and a hint of mint. Delicious. Good grip in the tannins. A long finish.
Roberto Voerzio Barolo Brunate 2018
I’ve tasted this both from tank and from bottle. The tank sample had an incredible nose. Concentrated with aromas of dark fruit. Elegant. Classic. Then, when I tasted from the bottle the nose was quite closed. But it had that wonderful combination of a feminine nose and complex body. Tannins were a but dry, but the aftertaste was incredible. Long finish.
Roberto Voerzio Barolo Fossati 2018
I also tasted this from both tank and bottle. When I tasted from the tank the wine was quite masculine with aromas of tobacco, some herbs and quite harsh tannins. Then, when tasted from the bottle, the nose was still quite masculine, but the harsh tannins were gone and the wine was quite feminine. With a long, good finish.
Roberto Voerzio Barolo La Serra 2018
A wine with an interesting nose. Red fruit, spices and a hint of licorice? Smooth tannins, good body and good deoth. Easy to drink. Integrated tannins.
Roberto Voerzio Barolo Cerequio 2018
Stunning! I really liked this wine. Aromas of red fruit and tobacco. A bit austere maybe. But WOW what a delicious wine. A good example of how maybe the nose and taste don’t always “go together”.
I’ve tasted quite a few Barbera 2020 this past year, and since I drink a lot of Barbera during the holiday season, I thought it’d be the perfect time to highlight some of my favorite ones! Barbera pairs very well with a lot of Norwegian Christmas food like pinnekjøtt, ribbe and turkey. The acidity in the Barbera goes very well with fatty foods, which is the common denominator in a lot of Norwegian Christmas food. But keep in mind the wine pairing also depends on the side dishes.
Anyways, here are some of my Barbera 2020 highlights. The tasting notes are in alphabetical order.
Alberto Viberti Barbera
I tasted the Alberto Viberti Barbera 2020 2 weeks after it was bottled, so the wine was a bit stressed. But even then this wine showed very well. A very fruity Barbera that will only get better after a while in the bottle.
Burlotto Barbera
The grapes in the Burlotto Barbera come from vineyards in Verduno and Roddi, including a vineyard that borders Monvigliero. Therefore it’s not odd to find notes of pepper in this wine. A very balanced Barbera with good acidity and good body.
Burlotto Barbera Aves
The Aves has a tad more acidity than the classic Barbera, good structure and a long finish. Notes of spices and red fruit. The Aves is rich and fleshy, but not heavy.
Crissante Alessandria Barbera
The Crissante Alessandria Barbera has quite a brilliant color. Notes of red fruit with a good acidity. A balanced wine.
Diego Morra Barbera
Notes of cherry and spices. Round with a good body. A very good wine, both on the nose and in the mouth.
Emilio Vada Barbera d’Asti
The Emilio Vada Barbera d’Asti 2020 has a very fresh nose with notes of raspberry. A very drinkable Barbera.
Ettore Germano Barbera d’Alba
Beautiful barbera with intense notes of Cherry. Quite concentrated in the mouth with good structure.
Fratelli Revello Barbera d’alba
A bit concentrated on the nose, but not warm. Aromas of dark red fruit. This wine would go very well with food.
Ghiomo Lavai
I tasted the Lavai 20 days after bottling, so it was very young. A wine with good balance that developed in the mouth. A balanced wine with a long finish.
La Vedetta Barbera Sarasino
A fruity, full bodied wine. A bit concentrated on the nose with aromas of dark red fruit.
Malabaila di Canale Barbera
This Barbera was very drinkable. Aromas of dark red fruits. Could I sense some notes of blueberry?
Marengo Barbera
A floral and fruity wine with a long finish. Balanced with good acidity.
Mauro Veglio Barbera
A very drinkable Barbera. Light and fruity. Couldn’t feel the 15% alcohol at all!
Nadia Curto Barbera
A fresh and mineral Barbera with notes of cherry. Balanced with good acidity. Cherry, fresh, mineral. Good acidity, balanced.
Paolo Scavino Barbera
Dark dark purple with bright hue, a very intense color. Fruity in the mouth with a bit of structure. Aromas of plum and ripe cherry.
Have you tried the recent release from Marengo? Wondering if you should? I think it’s a no brainer, but maybe these tasting notes might help persuade you!
Dolcetto d’Alba 2020
This Dolcetto is on fire! Quite concentrated with good structured and lots of fruit. It lasts forever! So good!
Barbera d’Alba Vigna Pugnane 2019
What a beautiful Barbera nose with aromas of red berries and spices. Explosive, both on the nose and in the mouth.
Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore 2019
The Marengo Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore might be my favorite Marengo wine. And one of my favorite Nebbiolo’s. The 2019 is no different! A very balanced wine with good structure and elegant tannins. On the nose you’ll find rose petals, mineral notes and a hint of tobacco.
Barolo: Recent Release from Marengo
Marengo Barolo 2017
The classic Barolo is a bit concentrated, similar to many other 2017 Barolo’s. The tannins are big and a bit more chewy compared to the 2016, but the wine is good!
Barolo Bricco Delle Viole 2017
The Bricco delle Viole has a beautiful floral nose with aromas of dark fruit. Also quite concentrated. Very easy to drink with lots of fruit and good length.
Marengo Barolo Brunate 2017
The Brunate was a little bit closed at first, but opens up in the glass and becomes the Brunate we all know and love. A big but elegant wine with hints of tobacco and leather.
Meet the Marengo Family
Marengo: Geek or nerd, in the modern, positive, definition of the words. The same way Bill Gates is often referred to as a nerd, an expert and enthusiast, and obsessed with intellectual pursuit of winemaking.
Jenny and Marco Marengo are warm and generous people, who are very passionate about their wines. Their son, Stefano, recently joined the winery full time, and the three of them work enthusiastically together in the pursuit of excellent winemaking.
Barolo 2016 – the vintage to rule them all? Every vintage is different. Some are hot, some are cold, some are dry and some are wet. And then you have everything in between. Sometimes, you have a vintage where everything kind of lines up. 2016 is such a vintage.
What is the best weather, you might ask. The reason it’s hard to answer this question is the fact that each step of the way, the grapes need different things. You want rain in the growing season, but not too much. During the harvest, the absence of rain is preferred. It needs to be warm, but not too warm, and you also want the nights to be cooler toward the harvest, but not too cool. The grapes are indeed quite high maintenance.
But then you have the “magic” vintages. The weather in 2016 was just about as perfect as can get for the Nebbiolo grapes. The growing season was long, there was an absence of natural disasters like hail, the weather was stable toward the end of the season and the harvest was late.
Barolo 2016
A lot of good Barolos came out of 2016, but what struck me the most is the high quality of the classic blends compared to the Cru Barolos. The classic blends are usually simpler, less complicated and can sometimes be perceived as inferior to the Cru Barolos. But in 2016 the disparity between the two is much smaller. I found the blends to be approachable, elegant, fresh and complex. It might be the year to stock up on the classic blends and give your wallet a break.
Top 5
Among the Barolo 2016s I’ve tasted, a few stood out. The unifying aspect connecting these wines was the “wow” feeling I got when I tried them. They were more than good wines, there was something extraordinary about them.
Azelia Barolo Cerretta 2016 – Now we’re talking! A powerful Barolo with an explosive nose. Notes of chocolate, tobacco, fruit. Big but sweet tannins. Burlotto Barolo 2016 – Holy shit. An incredibly approachable Barolo with elegant tannins. On the nose you’ll find hints of spices, tobacco, some chocolate and violets. Diego e Damiano Barale Barolo 2016 – Smooth and elegant Barolo with notes of leather, roses and red fruit. Excellent structure with round but persistent tannins. Francesco Borgogno Barolo Brunate 2016 – Beautiful nose, just like a Brunate should smell. Elegant wine with a long finish. Hints of tar on the nose. Marengo Barolo Brunate 2016 – Holy tits on toast. Those were my exact notes. A beautiful nose – floral and fruity. Elegant tannins, very smooth. This wine has huge potential.
Note that our tastes may differ, and these are based on my personal preferences. The wines are sorted in alphabetical order.
Barolo 2016 Tasting Notes
Andrea Oberto Barolo Commune di La Morra A very fresh Barolo with some balsamic notes. Hint of red fruit and tobacco. Tasted blind next to Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata 2016 and Barolo Arbarella 2015.
Andrea Oberto Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata Lovely floral and fruity nose. A big wine with sweet (round) tannins. My favorite Barolo 2016 from Andrea Oberto. Tasted blind next to Barolo 2016 and Barolo Arbarella 2015.
Andrea Oberto Barolo Albarella A very floral and feminine Barolo with hint of licorice. Tasted next to the Barolo Albarella 2015, and although 2015 is a good vintage, 2016 is definitely more expressive and approachable.
Azelia Barolo Floral and fruity nose, elegant tannins, good structure and long finish. A classic Barolo with grapes from Castiglione and Serralunga, giving the wine a good mix of feminine and masculine characteristics.
Azelia Barolo Margheria A powerful wine! Notes of tobacco, chocolate and spices.
Azelia Barolo San Rocco Another big wine from Azelia. Notes of chocolate and warm dark fruit.
Azelia Barolo Cerretta Now we’re talking! A powerful Barolo with an explosive nose. Notes of chocolate, tobacco, fruit. Big but sweet tannins.
Burlotto Barolo Holy shit. An incredibly approachable Barolo with elegant tannins. On the nose you’ll find hints of spices, tobacco, some chocolate and violets.
Burlotto Barolo Acclivi My first thought: What an extreme difference to the classic. The nose was so much more explosive. Roses, wet forest floor, spices. Smooth tannins. Spicy in the mouth.
Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero Again, so different on the nose. Typical monvigliero notes, almost like perfume. Spicy and floral. Impressive wine that is both powerful and elegant at the same time, with a long finish.
Burlotto Barolo Cannubi Floral, fruity, fresh. Bigger in the mouth than the other three. Big but with sweet tannins, making it relatively approachable now. But this is a wine I would store for a while.
Cascina Fontana Barolo “A wine complete” – Mario. Everything is good – well integrated, good nose, good structure. Elegant with a long finish.
Cascina Fontana Barolo Castiglione More masculine notes compared to the classic Barolo. Bigger in the mouth, but still elegant.
Cavallotto Barolo Beautiful nose with notes of roses, fruit and leather. Very elegant tannins.
Cavallotto Barolo Vignolo Big but approachable. Notes of roses and tobacco. Long finish.
Chiara Boschis Barolo Cannubi Explosive nose, very feminine and fresh. A very elegant Barolo.
Chiara Boschis Barolo Nia Nuova Via Nuova is a lot bigger than Cannubi, more masculine.
Chiara Boschis Barolo Mosconi A big wine with a long finish. Can feel the Monforte tannins. Huge potential!
Diego e Damiano Barale Barolo Smooth and elegant Barolo with notes of leather, roses and red fruit. Excellent structure with round but persistent tannins.
Diego Morra Barolo Zinzasco Balsamic and tobacco on the nose with a hint of chocolate. Big round tannins but they go away quite quickly and then you’re left with beautiful fruit and chocolate.
Ettore Germano Barolo Prapo A powerful yet elegant Barolo with softer tannins.
Ettore Germano Barolo Cerretta More powerful and concentrated. Balsamic nose with hints of concentrated fruit. Powerful tannins, a rustic Barolo.
Francesco Borgogno Barolo Brunate Beautiful nose, just like a Brunate should smell. Elegant wine with a long finish. Hints of tar on the nose.
Fratelli Revello Barolo The Fratelli Revello Barolo 2016 seduces you with aromas of red berries, licorice, tobacco and roses. The wine is powerful yet elegant, with a round fruity feel backed up by a good structure.
Gianfranco Alessandria Barolo Notes of oak, spices and rose petals. Big tannins, typical of a Monforte Barolo. Very good, long finish.
Gianfranco Alessandria Barolo San Giovanni This Barolo smells just like e a Barolo should smell. Some oak notes in addition to notes of licorice, leather and cherries. Big in the mouth, a typical Monforte Barolo. A tad spicy with a long finish.
Luigi Pira Barolo Marenca A more masculine and austere Barolo, but also quite crisp and fresh. Notes of tobacco, spices and menthol.
Luigi Pira Barolo Vignarionda Beautiful nose with notes of roses, red fruit and chocolate. An explosive wine with a long finish.
Marengo Barolo Smells just like a Barolo should, with notes of roses, leather and fruit. Smooth tannins that disappear quickly.
Marengo Barolo Bricco Delle Viole A more floral nose compared to the classic, with hints of roses and violets. More tannins than the classic as well.
Marengo Barolo Brunate Holy tits on toast. Those were my exact notes. A beautiful nose – floral and fruity. Elegant tannins, very smooth. This wine has huge potential.
Mauro Veglio Barolo Subtle nose with notes of spices, leather, flowers. Tastes just like a Barolo should taste – elegant and balanced. A big powerful wine, yet elegant, with a long finish.
Mauro Veglio Barolo Arborina Smells like Arborina, a beautifully feminine wine. Notes of rose petals with a hint of leather. An impressive Barolo that’s smooth in the mouth. Arborina tends to be more direct/vertical than Gattera.
Mauro Veglio Barolo Gattera Slightlymore masculine than Arborina. Notes of wet soil, spices, leather on the nose. Bigger tannins, rounder, more complex than the Arborina.
Mauro Veglio Barolo Castelletto Very spicy nose. Notes of tar and forest floor. More tannins and more structure than Arborina and Gattera.
Mauro Veglio Paiagallo Mauro Veglio Barolo Paiagallo 2016 has a very elegant nose of red berries, mainly strawberry and raspberry. The wine is powerful but elegant. Remarkably soft tannins!
Mauro Molino Barolo Bricco Luciani Feminine with smooth tannins. Red berries and floral notes.
Nadia Curto Barolo La Foia More tension than 2015. Fresh and crisp. Big but elegant.
Trediberri Barolo Roses, tobacco and tar. A wonderful, big Barolo. Might need some time in the glass to open up.
Vietti Barolo Perfect Barolo nose! A powerful wine with big tannins but they disappear quickly and you’re left with wonderful fruit.
Vietti Barolo Lazzarito Fresh nose, very fruity and floral with hints of spices and forest floor. Good structure.
Vietti Barolo Ravera Balsamic nose with hints of leather and licorice. Spicy in the mouth with a long finish. This wine needs time
Vietti Barolo Brunate Beautiful nose – floral, elegant, fruity. Powerful but also elegant. Long finish.
Norwegians are gearing up for Constitution Day. Many are graduating from school this spring. Perhaps some of you are getting ready for a birthday or an anniversary? And what better way than to celebrate with some good wine!
Champagne
I personally celebrate with Champagne. There’s something about bubbles that puts me in a festive mood. And I have a few “regulars” that I go back for. Bereche Brut Reserve 495,00kr is one of them. A very fresh and crisp wine, with subtle bubbles, just the way I like it. Agrapart Terroirs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 568,10kr is another great wine. It’s a little more expensive, but worth it if you want to celebrate a little extra!
Pierre Peters Brut 399,90kr still has to be the Champagne with the best QPR. Even with the small increase in price, it’s still under 400kr and one of my go-to when drinking bubbly. But if I really want to celebrate, I sometimes get Philipponnat Royale Réserve Brut 559,90kr. After meeting Charles Philipponnat at a winemakers dinner many years ago it has been my favorite!
White Wine
Not a fan of bubbles? Not even Champagne? Don’t worry! There are many other wines in the world. White wine is a good alternative. Vietti Roero Arneis 249,90kr is perfect for summer. Goes well with seafood, salads and light dishes. And while we are in Piemonte, maybe try the Diego Morra Chardonnay 198,00kr. Although a Chardonnay from Piemonte is typically more mineral than a Chardonnay from Burgundy, it’s still juicy and fresh. But if Burgundy is more to your liking, try the Matrot Bourgogne Chardonnay 250,00kr.
Red Wine
After drinking some Champagne and white wine, red wine often becomes an obvious choice. Need something light that doesn’t necessarily require food? Dolcetto is the grape for this scenario. Just saw that Cascina Fontana Dolcetto 260,00kr arrived in Norway, and I had to run out and get a bottle. Luigi Pira Dolcetto 205,90kr is a good, slightly cheaper option. And I know we are all excited to see the Dolcetto from Trediberri!
Speaking of Trediberri, his Barbera at only 189,90kr is still the best buy in Norway at the moment. There are plenty other great Barbera’s, and one of them is the Altare Barbera 315,00kr. Prices recently went up in Norway, and unfortunately this wine is no longer under 300kr. I blame Covid-19…
Thanksgiving might be an American (and Canadian) thing, so chances are you might not have a relationship with this holiday. Turkey, however, is something most of us (at least meat eaters) have a relationship with. And since Turkey is a big part of Thanksgiving, it may be fitting with suggestions of wines that pair well with turkey!
Thanksgiving – what wine should you get?
If you google “wine pairing turkey” you get many different results. I guess it all comes down to taste. Decanter suggests oaked chardonnay or pinot noir. Forbes brings out the big guns and suggests Champagne! While these are all good ideas, my suggestion (as Piemontegirl) would be Barbera.
Barbera for Thanksgiving
When it comes to fatty food, like Turkey, tannin is the enemy and acidity is your friend. And if there is one thing you’ll find in Barbera, it’s acidity. Personally I also prefer red wine with meat, even if it’s “light meat”, and would therefore choose Barbera over Champagne or a white wine. Again, this comes down to tastes and preferences, but it should come as no surprise that Piemontegirl recommends something from Piemonte.
Barbera 2020
2020 has been a strange year. A lot of things have happened. And a lot of things have been cancelled. However, one aspect of my life that remains the same is my love of wine. Here are some of my favorite Barbera from 2020:
Andrea Oberto Barbera Giada Easily one of my all time favorites! Andrea Oberto makes 3 different Barbera, each with different use of oak. The Giada is in my opinion the best, and even though it spends quite some time in wood barrels, you can’t feel the oak in the mouth.
Diego Morra Barbera A recent discovery, and a good one at that! The 2018 has good acidity with notes of red fruit and minerals.
Ghiomo Ruit Hora With 15% of Nebbiolo, this wine will rock your world! This is Giuseppino’s passion project, and it shows!
Trediberri Barbera It’s as good in 2019 as it was in 2018, perhaps even better! Not sure if all wine tastes better in 2020 (f**k Covid), but the Barbera from Trediberri certainly does!
Barbera 2021
Burlotto Barbera Both the classic Barbera and the Aves from Burlotto are out of this world! Fabio is an outstanding winemakerm, able to make good wine in any vintage; even the difficult ones!
Elio Altare Barbera A beautiful Barbera made by wonderful people. So happy to see it back in stock in Norway.
La Vedetta Barbera d’Asti I know I mostly stick to Barbera d’Alba, but we can’t forget about Barbera d’Asti. And this one from La Vedetta is one of my favorites.
Marco Marengo: Geek or nerd, in the modern, positive, definition of the words. The same way Bill Gates is often referred to as a nerd, an expert and enthusiast, and obsessed with intellectual pursuit of winemaking.
Cantina Marengo has about 6 hectares of vineyard in total, and the majority is used for nebbiolo for barolo. They make about 35,000 bottles of wine per year, which is spread out over the 6 (or 7) different wines they make. Both the Brunate and Bricco delle Viole vinyeards have belonged to the family for 5 generations.
Brunate is a well known name for many people.. Located in La Morra (73%) and Barolo (27%), the vineyard has mixed clay and silt soil with south/southeast exposure. There are 14 different wineries that have plots in Brunate (and some private).
Marengo Barolo Brunate
The vines Marengo use for Brunate are almost 80 years old. The vineyard has mixed clay and silt soil and south exposition. Harvest happens in September/october, depending on the vintage. Then the wine goes through natural acoholic and malolactic fermentation, before spending 24 months in french barrique. After an additional 6 months in bottle, the Marengo Barolo Brunate is ready to go!
Brunate is perhaps one of my favorite cru’s from Piemonte, and Marengo makes a very good one. You’ll find aromas of fruit, black cherry and some spices. The wine is full body, with silky but persistent tannins. Goes well with meat and cheese.
Where can you find the Marengo Barolo Brunate?
Norwegians, you can order it at www.vinmonpolet.no or get it in these local stores: Aker Brygge – 5 Moss – 22
Marengo’s wine are availale in many other countries as well. Look for them in the US and Italy. You can always ask Jenny where to find their wines: marengo@cantinamarengo.it
Marengo: Geek or nerd, in the modern, positive, definition of the words. The same way Bill Gates is often referred to as a nerd, an expert and enthusiast, and obsessed with intellectual pursuit of winemaking.
Jenny and Marco Marengo are warm and generous people, who are very passionate about their wines. Their son, Stefano, recently joined the winery full time, and the three of them work enthusiastically together in the pursuit of excellent winemaking.
Wines
Cantina Marengo has about 6 hectares of vineyard in total, and the majority is used for nebbiolo for barolo. They make about 35,000 bottles of wine per year, which is spread out over the 6 (or 7) different wines they make. Both the Brunate and Bricco delle Viole vinyeards have belonged to the family for 5 generations.
Winemaking
Marengo uses the “modern” winemaking method, which means the wine ages in either steel tanks or small barrique. Most of the work is done in the vineyards, as naturally as possible. The wines typically go through fermentation and maceration for an average of 5-6 days, and then age in small oak casks. The dolcetto is the only wine that only wine that doesn’t pass through any wood.
Fun fact
The vineyard in Valmaggiore belonged to Jenny’s family, and they recently expanded it. So soon there will be even more Valmaggiore Nebbiolo to drink!
Fun fact II
Marco’s son, Stefano, is often referred to as Marenghino. Or Claudio. Don’t ask. It has to do with some fotball player named Claudio.
Product name: Barolo Brunate Riserva Grape: nebbiolo Classification: DOCG Number of bottles produced: 1,000 Color: garnet red Fragrance: fruity, black cherry, spicy notes Taste: full body, silky tannins, persistent Food pairing: braised and roast meat, cheese
VINIFICATION (Wine-making)
Method: maceration on the skins for about 10 days. Natural alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. No yeast or bacteria added. Ageing: 24 months in french oak barriques (15% new) Minimum aging in bottle: about 6 months
VINEYARD
Soil: mixed clay and silt tending to calcarous Exposure: south Year of plantation: 1940 Date of harvest: September/October
Barolo Brunate
Product name: Grape: Classification: Number of bottles produced: 5,200 Color: ruby red with garnet tendencies Fragrance: small red berries, balasmic notes of sage andmint, floral and flint notes. Taste: silky and well integrated tannins Food pairing: red meat & seasoned cheese
VINIFICATION (Wine-making)
Method: maceration on the skins for about 10 days. Natural alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. No yeast or bacteria added. Ageing: 24 months in french oak barriques (15% new) Minimum aging in bottle: about 6 months
VINEYARD
Soil: mixed clay and silt tending to calcarous Exposure: South/South-East Year of plantation: 1947 & 1957 Date of harvest: September/October
Barolo Bricco Delle Viole
About the wine The first vintage of Bricco Delle Viole was 1997. The grapes come from 4 different plots: Boiolo, Serradenari, Roncaglie and Fossati.
Product name: Barolo Bricco Delle Viole Grape: Nebbiolo Classification: DOCG Number of bottles produced: 5,000 Color: ruby red with orange reflections Fragrance: cherry, sweet spices, Taste: elegant, full body, balances, persistent
VINIFICATION (Wine-making)
Method: maceration with the skins for about 10 days. Natural alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. Ageing: 24 months in french oak barriques (15% new) Minimum aging in bottle: about 6 months
VINEYARD
Soil: calcarpus without rocks in the subsoil Exposure: south Year of plantation/age of plants: 1955 Date of harvest: September/October
Barolo
The grapes come from 4 different plots: Boiolo, Serradenari, Roncaglie and Fossati.
Product name: Barolo Grape: Nebbiolo Classification: DOCG Number of bottles produced: 12,000 Color: ruby red Fragrance: red fruit and spices Taste: silky tannins, with good structure Food pairing: red meat, cheese
VINIFICATION (Wine-making)
Method: maceration on the skins for about 10 days. Natural alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. No yeast or bacteria added. Ageing: 24 months in french oak barriques (15% new) Minimum aging in bottle: about 6 months
VINEYARD
% of Grape/Cépage: Soil: various soil types Exposure: various exposures Year of plantation: 1999 & 2000 Date of harvest: September/October
Product name: Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore Grape: Nebbiolo Classification: DOC Number of bottles produced: 5,000 Color: intense ruby red Fragrance: fresh, fruity, red berries Taste: sweet tannins, fresh, persistent Food pairing:
VINIFICATION (Wine-making)
Method: vinification in steel with temperature control Ageing: french oak barrique from 12-15 months (15% new oak) Minimum aging in bottle:
VINEYARD
Soil: loamy-clayey tending to calcarous Exposure: south Year of plantation: 1965 & 2019 Date of harvest: September/October
Barbera d’Alba
Product name: Barbera d’Alba Vigna Pugnane Grape: Barbera Classification: DOC Number of bottles produced: 3,200 Color: intense ruby red Fragrance: red fruit Taste: full bodied, warm, fruity Food pairing:
VINIFICATION (Wine-making)
Method: fermentation and maceration with the skins for 5-6 days. Ageing: 10 months in french oak barriques (15% new oak) Minimum aging in bottle: 4 months
VINEYARD
Date of harvest: September/October
Dolcetto d’Alba
Product name: Dolcetto d’Alba Grape: Dolcetto Classification: DOC Number of bottles produced: 3,500 Color: ruby red Fragrance: fruity Taste: fruity with aftertaste of almonds Food pairing:
VINIFICATION (Wine-making)
Method: alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks with temperature control. Ageing: 10 months in stainless steel tanks Minimum aging in bottle:
VINEYARD
Soil: mixed clay and silt Exposure: south-east Year of plantation: 2000 & 1997 Date of harvest: September/October
We all have our favorite wines or winemakers, and here are some of my favorites at the moment.
For Fun
Cascina Fontana Dolcetto 225,- Looking for a wine to drink on a Tuesday night along with a bowl of pasta? Then this is your guy! And it the summer, chilling it a little may help cool you down in the hot summer months!
Trediberri Barbera 189,- Trediberri’s first vintage was 2011 and his wines quality has skyrocketed! And at this price, this barbera is fricking steal!
Azelia Dolcetto 2013 179,- A very interesting dolcetto, with grapes grown outside the Barolo area. This means that some of the best vineyards are actually used for Dolcetto instead of Nebbiolo, giving the grapes the best circumstances, making this Dolcetto extraordinary!
For Summer
Vietti Moscato 199,- Get a bowl of strawberries and pop open this – it’s like you died and went to heaven. I love moscato, and I don’t even need a dessert. So good!
Trediberri Langhe Rosato 139,- I am not a huge rose person, but if I had to pick one it’s for sure Trediberri’s Langhe Rosato. Fresh, not super sweet and made with love.
Agrapart Blanc de Blanc 508,- Champagne is growing on me, and I really like this one. And as for Champagne, this is not super expensive. Blanc de blanc typically suits me best, and Agrapart makes a really good one!
PIEMONTEGIRL 