2016 M. Marengo Barolo Bricco delle Viole

Speaking from the heart, this is probably my favorite wine from M. Marengo. The 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is a wine that always stands out in my tastings thanks to its very special bouquet. I am reminded of flowers, with hints of rose hip, lavender and, of course, violets, after which this cru site is named. Fruit comes from a one-hectare plot in the comune of Barolo at about 420 meters above sea level (a slightly higher and cooler site). You can almost taste the cool, calcareous soils here thanks to those delicate and fragile aromas. This 2016 vintage offers a bit more power and density, and that floral signature is slightly downplayed in favor of red fruit and wild berries. This vintage offers just a tad more concentration and darkness, with the textural tightness that beckons for many more years of cellar aging. With time, those beautiful fruit flavors will become more relaxed and polished. There's that hint of crushed white pepper again, which we saw in the classic Barolo. It pops up in this wine like a little sparkle at the very end. Some 6,100 bottles were made.

The 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is dark, powerful and austere. At the same time, the Bricco delle Viole has more fruit depth and overall intensity than it normally does. This needs time in bottle to fully emerge, but it is quite promising and very pretty, even in the early going. Deep, rich and chocolatey with well-integrated oak, the 2016 is both intriguing and promising.