2008 Barolo Garblet Sue
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Tasting notes
Brovia’s 2008 Barolo Garblet Sue’ bursts from the glass with a heady array of black fruit, smoke, incense and licorice. The Garblet Sue’, from the Bricco Fiasco vineyard in Castiglione, is usually a much more linear, tense Barolo, but in 2008 the wine has gorgeous inner perfume allied to a level of pure juiciness that rounds out some of the rough edges that are at times present in this bottling. A huge finish laced with iron, asphalt and crushed rocks rounds things out in style. This is a super-classic Barolo from Brovia. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2040. I can’t say enough good things about the Brovia family and what they have accomplished over the years, but especially over the last decade or so, which has seen them jump into the upper echelon of Barolo producers. The 2008s had just been bottled when I tasted them in November 2011. Now that the wines have been in bottle a little longer, it is clear they are fulfilling all of their early promise. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchants, Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Brovia's 2008 Barolo Garblet Sue bursts from the glass with a heady array of black fruit, smoke, incense and licorice. The Garblet Sue, from the Bricco Fiasco vineyard in Castiglione, is usually a much more linear, tense Barolo, but in 2008 the wine has gorgeous inner perfume allied to a level of pure juiciness that rounds out some of the rough edges that are at times present in this bottling. A huge finish laced with iron, asphalt and crushed rocks rounds things out in style. This is a super-classic Barolo from Brovia.
The 2008 Barolo Garblèt Sue' opens with a blast of dark red fruit. Today it is painfully young, primary and unevolved, but with time in the glass the wine starts to open up just a bit. Mint and floral overtones add a high-toned register as this full-throttle, intense Barolo shows off its tense, wiry personality. Big, firm tannins support the intense finish. The Ca' Mia is going to need serious bottle age, but it is a stunner.
(from the Bricco Fiasco vineyard in Castigione Falletto): Full deep red. Black raspberry, coffee and smoky minerality on the nose. Sweet in the middle but youthfully closed, hinting at dark fruits, licorice and menthol. Shows a more rustic tannic structure than the Rocche and Villero bottlings today. This youthfully tough Barolo will need at least eight years of cellaring.