Manuel Marinacci Barbaresco Piemonte Italy 2016

Rich, brooding, complex, and oh-so-yummy! Barbaresco sometimes gets short shrift when compared to its more famous neighbor Barolo in the Italian region of Piemonte. But the wines of this village, also made from the elusive Nebbiolo grape, can be every bit as hauntingly delicious when crafted by the hands of a talented winemaker (and often much more affordable). Manuel Marinacci is just such the man, and we were floored when we first tried his wine in a recent tasting. Are you looking for something beyond your usual red wine repertoire? Give Barbaresco a go!

Unlike many of his counterparts in Barbaresco, Manuel Marinacci didn’t come from a long line of landed gentry or minor nobility. Like many of us in the industry, he simply fell in love with wine and passionately pursued it as a career. He studied at Alba’s viticulture school and enthusiastically released his first vintage in 2004. He started from nothing and doesn’t have a family legacy behind him, but this doesn’t stop Manuel from producing absolutely intoxicating Barbaresco that is rooted in the region’s traditions.

Today, Manuel is the proud owner of just around eight acres of vines located on a hillside between the villages of Dolcetto and Alba. He made this lovely 2016 Barbaresco with minimal intervention. The grapes were picked by hand and allowed to cold soak to release gorgeous color and blackberry notes prior to fermentation. After three years in large, neutral Slavonian oak casks, the resulting wine is ruby-colored, with enticing aromas of blackcurrant, subtle cherry, balsamic figs, and savory notes. On the palate, bright acidity and fine-grained tannins meld into a long, black cherry flourish.