Marrone
Barolo Bussia – 2019
Region: italy - piedmont
Marrone
The origins of Agricola Marrone date back over a century and through four generations. The family is focused on cultivating local grape varietals with a passionate dedication to the land.
When Pietro Marrone was born in 1887, his father Edoardo was already producing wines. In 1910, at 23 years old, he asked his father to plant some vineyards. In the early 1920s/30s the winery began cultivating vineyards using techniques that were revolutionary at the time: reducing production yields to prioritize higher quality and avoiding sowing wheat between vine rows, a standard practice at the time. This decision was an early adoption of what eventually became known as modern cultivation practices widely used in the region today.
In 1978 ‘Gianpi’ took over full management of Marrone and began a phase of expansion in the vineyards and the cellar space. His wife Giovanna, affectionately known as “Mamma Gio,” orchestrates private hospitality and is the kitchen director. For Giovanna, food is “tradition and Italian values that go hand with our wines.”
Since 2011 the winery has been run by “Tre Fie,” the three daughters of Gian Piero and Giovanna Marrone. Valentina is the winemaker, Serena runs marketing and business operations, and Denise is the hospitality heart and manager of the visitor programs and restaurant. The farm is run with minimal intervention in the vineyard, a philosophy that carries through from harvest to winemaking. The Marrone family pays careful attention to produce wines that are elegantly structured with the potential to evolve for decades.
The Wine
Vineyard Profile
Vineyards in the “Bussia” subzone, Monforte d’Alba at the border with Castiglione Falletto.
- Altitude: 1150 feet/350 meters
- Exposure: Southwest
- Soils: Clayey marls with high sand content; particularly homogenous soil with low permeability
- Vines Planted: 1960
- Vine Training System: Traditional Guyot
Harvest Notes
- Hand harvested the 1st week of October
- Berry selection in vineyard to remove those not perfectly ripe and healthy
- 2nd berry sorting at cellar before light crushing
- Fermented with skins and maceration at 86ºF/30ºC for 25 days in stainless steel tanks
- Malolactic fermentation in large 25 hl oak barrels
- Aged 30 months
- Batonnage on fine lees the first 10 months of aging
- Bottled under nitrogen coverage
- Bottle aging for minimum 6 months in temperature controlled environment before release
Winemaker's Notes
Wild strawberry, blood orange and ripe mandarin aromas. Poppy seed, toasted hazelnuts and carmelized lemon peel emerge. Full bodied with silky tannins and a vibrant, tasty finale.
Wine Summary
100% Nebbiolo, “Lancia” & Michet” biotypes; alcohol: 14.3%; Bussia cru vineyard, Monforte d’Alba near border of Castiglione Falletto at 1150 feet; clayey marl soils with high sand content, low permeability; vines planted 1960; hand harvested 1st week of October with 2 passes of berry selections; fermented 25 days at 86ºF on skins in stainless steel tanks; malolactic fermentation in 25 Hl barrels; aged 30 months in oak, initial 10 months on fine lees with battonage; bottled under nitrogen cover and bottle aged at least 6 months before release.
Technical Information
- 100% Nebbiolo, “Lampia” & “Michet” biotypes
- Alcohol: 14.2%
- Total Acidity: 5.59 g/l
- Extract: 31 g/l
Reviews
91 Points
Peppery and spiced Barolo with red berries, dried herbs and orange peel on the nose. Medium-bodied, dry and lightly chewy on the palate. It’s rather one-dimensional, but solid and structured. Drink or hold.
jamessuckling.com, August, 2024
16.5 Points
Monforte d’Alba. Just mid ruby. A tiny bit reduced, with peppery strawberry and rhubarb fruit with hints of iron. Elegant palate of sweet strawberry fruit, while the tannins play up a little on the finish. 2024 – 2034
JancisRobinson.com, May, 2024
94 Points
Vivid deep red, with an orange tinge. Expressive, spicy aromas of blood orange, strawberry and raspberry, with smoky and floral notes adding complexity. Deep-pitched red and dark fruits are enlivened by tangy minerality, this saturates the palate without leaving any impression of weight on the long aftertaste. 2033 – 2042
Ian D'Agata Wine Review, December, 2024
General Info
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Appellation(s) | Barolo DOCG; Langhe DOC |
| Proprietors | Gian Piero Marrone |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Winemaker | Valentina Marrone |
| Annual Production | 4600 9L cases |
| Farming (Sustainable, organic, biodynamic) | Farmed using organic principles |