2017 Brezza Barolo Riserva Bricco Sarmassa (750ml)

Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Ranking among “the finest Barolos being made” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Kerin O’Keefe, the elegant 95 pt. 2019 Brezza Barolo Cannubi boasts brightly perfumed aromas and silky, red spiced fruit with layered complexity that has made Cannubi one of Barolo’s most famed and collectible Crus, bargain priced at a fraction of its better-known competitors and available in a variety of age worthy formats for stocking the cellar.

Located just a few steps from the center of the town of Barolo, the historic Brezza winery is run by fourth generation Enzo and his nephew Francesco, continuing the family tradition of bottling wines from estate grown Nebbiolo fruit since 1910. Considered icons of traditional winemaking while employing sustainable practices including organic viticulture for over a decade, Brezza’s vineyards span a total of 16.5 hectares surrounded by hazelnut groves, its 1.4-hectare parcel in Cannubi originally planted between 1993 and 2003. Situated where two of Barolo’s most important geological formations meet (Cannubi coming from the Latin “connubio” or marriage), Brezza’s Cannubi parcel is located on the prime central part of the hill, its Nebbiolo vines planted in a mix of silty sand, clay and limestone at 250 meters above sea level on a southeasterly orientation favorable for even ripening. Surrounded by the highest slopes of La Morra, Castiglione Falletto and Monforte that shelter it from the cold and wind, Enzo and Francesco cultivate their sloping Cannubi vineyard by hand, employing techniques like green harvesting and thinning to further lower yields. After fermenting the hand harvested grapes with native yeasts in stainless steel, the supple and sleek 2019 Brezza Barolo Cannubi was aged in a mix of large, used Slavonian oak barrels for 24 months before being bottled unfiltered and unfined and cellared for another year prior to release, maintaining its fresh acidity while integrating refined tannins that promise over a decade of longevity.

From a “stellar vintage” that will “thrill readers who appreciate the nuance, subtlety and structure of Nebbiolo” according to Vinous critic Galloni, the powerful 95 pt. 2019 Brezza Cannubi is an elegantly crafted, finessed Barolo from a top Cru that’s well-priced for savvy collectors to enjoy often without breaking the bank, available in 750ml and 1.5L ready for cellaring at an unbeatable value.

95V

94D

The 2017 Barolo Riserva Sarmassa Vigna Bricco is fabulous. Best of all, it will be ready to drink with minimal cellaring. Kirsch, blood orange, spice, dried rose petal, mint and sweet red cherry all meld together in a Barolo that marries a classic sense of structure with the natural intensity of a drought vintage. This heady Barolo is wonderfully exotic, and a real pleasure to taste today. Impressive.

95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2023)

There's evidence here of winemaking aimed at preserving the freshness of the fruit in the 2017 vintage, with – for example – a shorter 24 months of oak ageing. Bright ruby and garnet in colour, it opens with elegant violet and cinnamon, camphor-like minerality, dried rose, and and red currant fruit core. On the palate, the fruit and peppery notes dominate. The attack is firm, with velvety and dusty tannins which result in power without being too stern. There's a bit of dryness on the finish but otherwise it has a great profile and fruit freshness.

94 points, Aldo Fiordelli, Decanter (Feb 2023)

Alcohol By Volume: 14.5%

#ITBRBO17AE

$84.99

23 bottles in stock. Ships in 1 to 2 business days.

This item is available in original wood case. Would you like to include the wood case in your order? There is an additional $12.00 shipping fee for wood cases.

Available in Original Wood Case of 6

Add to Wishlist