Barolo Briccolina 2019

The Grasso family settled at Briccolina in 1923 and own the largest share of the MGA with 6 hectares, all planted to Nebbiolo. The house and winery sit at the top of the ridge that extends to Ornato and Falletto.

In 2012 Tiziano Grasso and son Daniele began reserving the best parcels of their oldest vines (fifty plus years) to make a Barolo under their own name.  Sadly, just as things got going, Tiziano died in a tractor accident and its taken a few years to get back on track. Daniele farms sustainably, practising organic but is not certified. The wine spends about twenty days on skins in upright Garbellotto tini and is aged for two years in small-medium botti from Garbellotto and Austrian coopers Schneckenleitner and Stockinger.  Barolo from Serralunga is renowned for power and structure but the combination here of vine age, a perfect site and Daniele's gentle approach in the cantina yield a wine that shows energy and finesse.  Theres a core of bright red fruits with spice and floral notes, the firm tannins carrying a long finish.

The 2019 Barolo Briccolina is a classy, powerful wine. A blast of dark cherry, plum, gravel, spice, incense and lavender makes a fine first impression, before big Serralunga tannins make themselves felt. This imposing Barolo will benefit from a few years in bottle. It is a fine effort from the Grasso family. 94 points, Antonio Galloni