Cellar Raid Highlight: Brovia’s Barolos
Cellar Raid: Half Priced Bottles of 750ml Wine Every Tuesday in our Enoteca.
Founded in 1863, the Brovia family has a long-standing tradition of winemaking in the region of Piemonte, crafting wines that embody the essence of Langhe hills. With over 150 years of history, Brovia is renowned for their meticulously farmed vineyards and their hands-off approach in the cellar, allowing the natural beauty of Nebbiolo to shine.
Brovia’s estate includes some of the most celebrated crus in Barolo, including Rocche di Castiglione, Villero, Garblèt Sue, and Brea. These prime vineyard sites are home to vines that range from 40 to over 50 years old, producing fruit that carries a deep sense of place. The family’s dedication to organic farming and traditional vinification methods ensures that their wines express the true character of these historic vineyards.
In the cellar, Brovia favors long macerations and aging in large neutral oak, preserving the purity of the Nebbiolo grape and the distinctive terroirs. Their wines are known for their elegance, balance, and incredible aging potential, making them a must for any serious Barolo enthusiast.
This Week’s Featured Selections:
Barolo, Brovia “Villero” 2017
The “Villero” 2017 is nothing short of a transcendent expression of this renowned cur. A wine that melds power and grace, it unfurls in the glass with breathtaking complexity. On the nose, an intoxicating bouquet of ripe black cherry, dried rose petals, and dark tobacco rises, laced with hints of tar and crushed herbs. As the wine opens, layers of balsamic reduction and leather emerge, speaking to the depth and maturity of the vineyard’s old vines.
The palate is an experience unto itself: beautifully structured, with velvety tannins that frame the wine’s bold fruit core. This Barolo exhibits remarkable balance between the concentrated dark fruit, mineral-laden earthiness, and subtle notes of anise and cocoa powder. The finish is long and sophisticated, with a savory edge that lingers endlessly. This vintage is a classic Villero, combining brooding intensity with elegance. It’s a wine that commands your attention now.
Barolo, Brovia “Brea – Ca’Mia” 2019
The 2019 “Brea-Ca’Mia” is nothing short of a revelation from one of Barolo’s most sought-after cru sites. A wine that speaks with quiet authority, it reveals astounding purity of fruit alongside a profound sense of place. The nose is immediately captivating, with deep aromas of black plums, crushed wild berries, and violets, intertwined with subtle nuances of cedar, tobacco leaf, and a haunting whisper of rose petals.
On the palate, this Barolo displays an exquisite balance of power and finesse. The tannins are finely polished yet gripping, providing incredible structure. The rich core of dark fruit is supported by notes of truffle, scorched earth, and licorice, with a mineral backbone that reflects the unique soils of the Brea vineyard. As it evolves in the glass, a kaleidoscope of flavors - dried herbs, balsamic reduction, and cocoa nibs - adds layers of complexity.
This wine is a masterclass in restraint and harmony, showing the hallmark depth of Barolo. Its finish is seemingly infinite, lingering on the palate with savory notes and a touch of saline minerality that beckons another sip.
Barolo, Brovia “Rocche di Castiglione” 2019
The 2019 “Rocche di Castiglione” is a veritable tour de force, a wine that encapsulates the purest expression of this celebrated vineyard. Perfumed and precise, the bouquet unfolds with an ethereal mix of red currants, wild strawberries, and dried rose petals, mingling effortlessly with hints of sweet spices, freshly turned earth, and delicate wafts of crushed mint. It’s a nose that demands contemplation, revealing new layers with each swirl of the glass.
On the palate, the “Rocche di Castiglione” 2019 is a study in elegance and depth. Silky yet firm tannins provide an impeccable structure, supporting the wine’s radiant core of red fruit. This Barolo dazzles with refined notes of pomegranate, blood orange zest, and distinctive stony minerality that’s characteristic of the Rocche terroir. Hints of leather, savory herbs, and a touch of black tea emerge as the wine expands on the palate, showcasing remarkable complexity and nuance.
The finish is nothing short of majestic - long, lifted, and finely detailed, with a lingering sensation of floral undertones and subtle spice. This is a wine that speaks of grace and precision.
