Marchesi di Barolo 'Barolo Sarmassa' 2016 - 1.5 Litre Bottle

Deep garnet red. Intense aroma with clean scents of wild rose, vanilla, licorice and spices. Feather the resin of pine and tobacco. Taste is full and elegant, full bodied, with tannins in evidence, with recurring olfactory sensations. Enjoyable are the spicy and woody notes that blend perfectly.

96 Points - James Suckling    This Barolo frames a stunning nose with intense, captivating rose perfume, chamomile tea, earl grey and tarte tatin. The palate is chewy and structured from every side, the confident tannins pushing the fruit inwards and compressing layers of vivacious red fruit with panache and style. Mineral yet fruity on the finish, and very long. Drink from 2025.

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast    Aromas of dark-skinned berry, coconut, French oak and blue flower lead the nose. On the tense taut palate, fine-grained tannins accompany mature plum, dried cherry, vanilla and coffee bean while fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2024–2036.

92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate    The Marchesi di Barolo 2016 Barolo Sarmassa delivers a solid and powerful presentation with aromas of dark cherry and plum backed by smoked meat, tobacco and savoury spice. It ages in both French and Slavonian oak for two years. The Sarmassa cru, from a southeast-facing slope sitting at about 350 meters in altitude, delivers intensity and bold fruit flavours with liquorice, smoke and chalky mineral. Despite the intensity of the bouquet, this wine is subdued in terms of mouthfeel. There is a point of tannic tightness on the close, but the mouthfeel is soft overall, treading lightly on the palate.