Grand Cru Wine Merchants

Soaring aromatics emerge from the estate’s 2004 Barolo Brunate. Menthol, dark cherries, spices, new leather and licorice are all to be found in this generous, layered wine. Sweet, ripe tannins provide a lovely bookend to this rich, classic Barolo from the Brunate vineyard. Still somewhat closed, it is likely to require at least a few years of bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. -93pts WA (AG)

Good medium red with an amber edge. Distinctly backward nose hints at dark raspberry and menthol; much less showy today than La Serra. Then rich, chewy, sweet and dense in the mouth, with bound-up flavors of dark fruits and camphor. Considerably deeper and more structured than La Serra, but these tannins will also require substantial bottle aging. Marcarini continues to employ a leisurely traditional maceration lasting 40 days, says director Manuel Marchetti, using a continuous and very gentle spray to keep the cap wet. -92+pts IWC (ST)