A classically styled Barolo from one of the appellation’s founding houses, in a warm, generous vintage.
At a Glance
| Producer | Marchesi di Barolo |
| Wine | Barolo DOCG |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Type | Red |
| Grapes | Nebbiolo |
| Region | Piedmont, Italy |
| Appellation | Barolo DOCG |
| Drinking window | 2025-2035 |
| Serve at | 16-18 C |
About This Wine
Marchesi di Barolo’s flagship ‘Barolo del Comune di Barolo’ is the estate’s calling card — a blend from several plots across the commune of Barolo itself, designed to express the appellation in a recognisable, welcoming form. The 2020 vintage arrives from a growing season that produced ripe, aromatic Nebbiolo with polished tannins.
In the glass this is the accessible face of Barolo: perfumed rose petal, red cherry and tar, with the firm but civilised tannic backbone the grape is famous for. It is not the estate’s single-cru bottling — those are the Cannubi and Sarmassa wines — but rather the house’s broad statement of style.
As an introduction to the appellation, or as a versatile Barolo for the table rather than the cellar, few wines offer more reliable pleasure at this level.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Translucent garnet with a bricking rim characteristic of Nebbiolo.
Nose: Dried rose, red cherry, sweet tobacco, tar and a hint of truffle and dried herbs.
Palate: Medium-bodied and elegant, with red-fruit sweetness balanced by bright acidity and fine-grained but persistent tannins.
Finish: Long, savoury and slightly grippy, leaving notes of cherry stone, tea leaf and earth.
Rating
The Vintage
2020 in Barolo was a warm but balanced vintage that produced ripe, aromatic Nebbiolo with softer tannins and earlier accessibility than more structured years like 2016.
Food Pairings
- Brasato al Barolo — braised beef in the wine itself is the local classic
- Tajarin with butter and white truffle — echoes the wine’s earthy perfume
- Aged hard cheeses like Castelmagno or Parmigiano Reggiano for the tannic grip
Serving & Cellaring
Decant 60-90 minutes before serving to allow the aromatics to open and soften the tannins.
Approachable now with air, but will gain complexity over the next 5-8 years if stored on its side in cool, dark, humid conditions.
The Winery
Marchesi di Barolo is one of the historic houses of the Langhe, tracing its roots to the early 19th century when Giulia Falletti, the last Marchesa of Barolo, worked with the Falletti family cellars to shape modern Barolo as we know it. Today the estate is run by the Abbona family and remains headquartered in the village of Barolo itself, directly opposite the Falletti castle. The house style is classically proportioned — perfumed, structured Nebbiolo drawn from estate vineyards in some of the appellation’s most storied crus, alongside a widely available village-level blend that acts as an ambassador for the denomination.
