Brovia Barolo: Built To Last

There has been a huge demand in the market for 2010 Barolo, universally considered a “classic” vintage.  Partly because the combination of a long, cool growing season and attention to details in viticulture and vinification allow these “classic” wines to be enjoyed in their youth as well as evolve over time.  This is slightly different from the previous “classic” vintage of 2006 which produced slightly bigger and more powerful wines with denser tannins that will take a number of years to shed. That being said, drinking 2006s nearly a decade in, you still can taste the pedigree of the great wines and get a glimpse into the gorgeous and complex juice they surely will become.  I can’t think of a better way to experience this for yourself than by sampling a bottle from the small stash of Brovia’s 2006 Garblet Sue we recently checked in.  

The Brovia winery was founded as far back as 1863 in Castiglione Falletto. Throughout the years, the family acquired some parcels in Serralunga as well as increased their holdings in Castiglione Falletto with the premier vineyards Rocche and Villero, as well as the unique site Garblet Sue.  Wines from Castiglione Falletto are often known for being well balanced, with Rocche focusing on elegance and aromatics and Villero balancing finesse and power.  But with Garblet Sue’s varied soil composition of mainly clay, to clay-limestone and finally to prevalently calcareous, wines of great complexity encased in formidable tannins are created for the long haul.

This wine received a 95-point score from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

“The 2006 Barolo Garblet Sue possesses a deep, penetrating core of bright red fruit, enshrouded by a potent wall of tannins. There is terrific density and richness in the glass, all kept in check by the linear focus that is the hallmark of Barolos from the Bricco Fiasco vineyard. This, too, is from Castiglione Falletto, but like the two preceding wines in this line-up, the Garblet Sue' speaks with its own distinct voice. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031.” - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

I recently enjoyed a bottle of this wine, the first half throughout a three hour dinner, the second half with lunch the next day.  This wine is a textbook example of the “classicism” of the vintage, the vineyard and the producer.  At a market low and less than release price of $59.99, I urge you to add some to your collection, especially if you have a child born in ’06 or were married that year.  This is a wine built to last and will provide wonderful tastings for years to come.