TN: 1971 Marcarini Barolo Brunate (Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo)

WINE TALK
#1
  • 1971 Marcarini Barolo Brunate - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (11/8/2018)
    Double decanted for sediment a few hours earlier. Drunk over 2 hours.

Over the first hour or so, the nose is tar, decaying leaves, dried rose petal, medicine cabinet, and redder toned nebbiolo fruit, all with cool herbal inflections that add nuance. This gains floral tones and the rose perfume gets fresher over time. On the palate, it’s still structured, but with great lift and a sense of harmony, with a palate impact that is simultaneously focused and yet with breadth. To use an overused term, this has power and grace. The fruit is playing a supportive role to the more tertiary notes at this point in time. More tar, dried roses, some nettle, decaying leaves, balsam, red fruited nebbiolo, and ferrous notes on the palate. It’s fully mature, even for my palate. that said, it gained depth and the fruit and perfume grew with time in the glass. Very long on the back end. This is a wine of harmony that is gracefully leaning toward the back end of its peak, but outstanding today. (93 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

#2

Sounds great, reminds me of a bottle I served last Nov- showed great, fully mature, but not tired, stayed strong through evening.
Had another bottle couple of weeks ago that wasn’t as good, a little stewed and not as long. Could be storage, could just be bottle variation under cork. to be expected at 40+.
Thanks for note.

#3

Thanks Dale,

Hope all is well with you. It sounds like your one from last year was along the lines of this bottle. This was in pretty good shape. Ive had several that have not been. When in good shape, these older Marcarinis can be pretty great in a power meets finesse mode.

Best,