2010 Barolo Sarmassa
Buying options
Tasting notes
This is the most vinous, and the least tight, on the nose. There is some depth here, which becomes clearer in the mouth. This is chewier and less tightly wound than the Cannubi, and perhaps is a little more 'grand vin' today. Very impressive and impossibly pure again. These will be quite excellent with some time in the cellar.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
From one of the best sites in Barolo, this intense wine opens with a multi-dimensional fragrance of crushed flower, new leather, earth, incense, spice and black cherry. The vibrant, spicy palate delivers red berry accented with notes of black pepper, cinnamon spice, licorice and clove. Bold but noble tannins and brisk acidity promise fantastic aging potential.
Surprisingly lightweight and streamlined in the mouth, the 2010 Barolo Sarmassa seems to depart the senses as quickly as it arrives. You definitely get the sense this wine has more to offer once it fleshes out with extra bottle aging. The bouquet offers a pretty, though faint, embroidery of forest fruit, cola, almond paste and medicinal herb. It does show fine elegance throughout and great promise as a result. Drink: 2016-2024. The Brezza estate includes 16 hectares of vines at the heart of Barolo and focuses on traditional interpretations of Nebbiolo. That said, the 2010 vintage definitely requires a healthy period of aging patience partly because of this soft-handed winemaking approach. My feeling is that these samples were partially shut down at the time of my tasting. I wonder how they will taste five or ten years from now. I did have a chance to re-taste samples of the same wines from 2009 and was left with a fabulous impression (that confirms the high scores I gave last year). That vintage is far more immediate soft and forthcoming. The 2010 wines may ultimately taste better further down the road, but only time will tell. Various American Importers, including: Acid Inc. Selections, New York, NY; tel. (917) 687-4848; P&S Wine Company, Portland, OR; tel. (503) 265-3155; Ideal Wine & Spirits, Medford, MA; tel. (781) 395-3300
Barolo. Just mid ruby with broad orange-tinged rim. Earthy and minerally more than fruity. Hints of herbs and Chinotto. Compact fruit wrapped up in quite fierce tannins, but there is overall elegance and fluidity. Loads of potential.