Vineyard Profile
Vineyards in Castiglione Falletto & La Morra, Barolo DOCG.
- Castiglione Falletto – high iron content, which converts into a richer colour, bolder wines, structure and a stronger tannin, more power than the west side
- Altitiude: 350 meters
- Exposure: Southwest
- Soil: Looser calcareous marl with high sandstone content, rich in iron
- La Morra – Tortonian soil, creating more perfumed, gentle, softer wines
- Altitude: 270 meters
- Exposure: South
- Soil: Compact calcareous marl mixed with sand, rich in magnesium and manganese
- Vines Planted: average 1985
- Vine Training Systems: Traditional Guyot
Harvest Notes
- Hand harvested the 1st week of October
- Additional berry sorting before light pressing
- Fermented 30 days at 28º C in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks
- Malolactic fermentation in 50% large 30 Hl barrels & 50% in oak barriques
- Aged 24 months in oak, the first 8 months on fine lees with battonage
- Bottling under nitrogen cover
- Bottles stored in temperature controlled environment
Winemaker’s Notes
It is full and intense, with ripe blackberry, violet, sandalwood, licorice and a hint of candied orange. There is a flicker of wood, vanilla and cloves. The tannins are silky and ripe, well-balanced acidity, for a pleasant, quite ready, immediately seductive Barolo.
Wine Summary
100% Nebbiolo, “Lancia” & “Michet” biotypes; alcohol: 14.74%; vineyards in Castiglione Falletto & La Morra; altitudes 350 & 270 meters; calcareous marl soils mixed with sand, limestone and sandstone, rich in iron and minerals; hand harvested in October with 2 passes of berry selections; fermented 30 days at 28º C in stainless steel tanks; malolactic fermentation in 50% – 50Hl barrels and 50% in oak barriques; aged 24 months in oak, initial 8 months on fine lees with battonage; bottled under nitrogen cover.
90+ Points
The Marrone family has been growing grapes in La Morra for four generations, with the Marrone sisters, Valentina, Serena and Denise currently running the estate. Their blended Barolo cuvée is made from parcels in both La Morra and Castiglione Falletto, with the vines that contribute to this bottling averaging thirty years of age. The wine is raised half in botti and half in barrique for two years prior to bottling. The 2017 comes in at 14.74 percent octane and offers up a lovely nose of cherries, gamebird, underbrush, fresh oregano, a lovely base of soil, a touch of camphor and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, ripe and nicely transparent in personality, with a lovely core of red fruit, fine soil signature, chewy tannins, tangy acids and a bit of backend heat perking up the long and complex finish. Recall that 2017 was a drought vintage, which concentrated sugars, acids and tannins, and in the context of the vintage, this wine is quite nicely balanced for a challenging growing season. This will age quite nicely, but will need plenty of time in the cellar to blossom. 2035 – 2080
