“The Marcarini Barolos offer solid quality and terrific overall value in a classic, old-school style.” – Vinous

96-point single vineyard Barolo, from one of the region’s stalwarts of classicism, for under $70?!

If you had asked us yesterday, we would have told you, “Doesn’t happen.”

BUT! Fans of bone-dry, savory reds, Italian wine enthusiasts, and terroir geeks gather round. This wine is for you!

(Definitely check out their 94-point rarity from 150+ year-old vines, too!)

Marcarini may not be as famous as some of the flashier, more fashionable wineries in Barolo, but they are about as OG as it gets. It is easy to think of Barolo as something that has been around forever, one of the timeless kings of traditional Italian wines. BUT as we know it today, 100% Nebbiolo, aged to perfection before release, it actually dates to the mid-nineteenth century. Founded in the 1850’s, they were there from the beginning!

Fast forward a hundred years, and they were again on the forefront of embracing the region’s unique terroir – they were among the very first to label single-vineyard wines in the 1950s.

And this comes from one of the highest regarded vineyards, the Cru of La Serra. The hallmark of La Serra is the powerful floral perfume on the nose, its herbal minty notes, and nervous, chalky, elegant tannins. The vineyard sits at about 1,250 feet elevation, higher than most, with an open, southern exposure – ensuring long, slow ripening that leads to the wine’s notable complexity and elegance.

The 2021 vintage was one for the history books for Barolo. Wine Spectator gave it 99 points, which makes it the highest scoring harvest there ever, raving about “a classic year, with a cold winter, ample water reserves, ideal September conditions and an October harvest; structured, intense and balanced, with freshness and fine aging potential.”

In the hands of its founding family, helmed by Manuel Marchetti and his 3 children, Marcarini continues to carefully farm the 49 acres and makes wines in the classical style. In a region torn by ‘modernists’ and ‘traditionalists’, they are firmly the latter in technique – submerged cap extended maceration and aging in large neutral botti.

So it is, in the best possible way, your grandfather’s Barolo. The type of Barolo that made us fall in love with the region many years ago. No flash, no pizazz, but deeply complex, contemplative, savory, nuanced, and crazy-long.

Whether you want to pop it now and enjoy its youthful red fruits and floral intensity, or cellar it for the next fifteen years or beyond to develop deeply leathery, earthy nuance is up to you. But we recommend buying plenty NOW and doing both.

Because we don’t have much… And we don’t know when we’ll see a Barolo deal this good again!

96 Points, Cellar Selection – Wine Enthusiast “The wine builds slowly in the glass, revealing its power with patience. Dark red fruits shine with an almost-ripe gleam, while savory herbs and dusty earth create a counterpoint. The palate is generous but balanced, where ripe fruit shares equal billing with its supporting cast. Earth, fruit, and structure each take their turn in the spotlight, creating a performance where every element enhances the others. Drink from 2027.”