Roberto Voerzio Barolo Brunate 2008

Roberto Voerzio Barolo Brunate 2008

Critic tasting notes:

"The 2008 Barolo Brunate is beautifully balanced from start to finish. Freshly cut flowers, mint, licorice, hard candy and dark red fruit are layered in this utterly impeccable Barolo. Waves of fruit build toward a huge, dramatic finish supported by serious tannins, yet the Brunate remains one of the more understated wines here. The Brunate is all about length, weightless elegance and an elusiveness that is only matched by the greatest Burgundies. This is a dazzling effort. Readers should expect the Brunate to take the better part of a decade to become expressive. Following the Brunate over the course of several days was immensely rewarding. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2033.

These wines from Roberto and Davide Voerzio represent a significant turning point stylistically. This is the first year in which most of the Baroli were aged partly in cask and partly in barrel, the same approach the estate used for its early wines, up to and including the 1993 vintage. The 2008s spent their first year in equal parts cask and barrique, and a second year in French oak barrels, just 20% new, a major change over the recent past. The exceptions are the Baroli Voerzio bottled only in magnums (Sarmassa and Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e delle Brunate), which were aged exclusively in French oak because of the tiny quantities of those wines. Roberto Voerzio describes 2008 as a year that was cold from start to finish. The wines are huge, tannic and likely to require quite a bit of patience. With time, though, the pedigree of the great Barolo vineyards simply can’t be denied. The best of Voerzio’s 2008s are pure magic." - Robert Parker The Wine Advocate, Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni (98/100)

"Blackberries with hints of coffee and dried flowers on the nose. Turns to mushrooms. Full body, with firm and chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Tight and not giving much. Needs a couple of years to soften on the palate." - James Suckling

Roberto Voerzio Barolo Brunate 2008 is a single-vineyard Barolo from the celebrated Brunate cru in La Morra, Piedmont. Made entirely from Nebbiolo, it combines Voerzio’s famously low-yield, concentrated style with the cooler 2008 vintage’s structure, freshness and long ageing potential.

Technical Details

• Producer: Roberto Voerzio, La Morra, Langhe, Piedmont

• Wine: Barolo DOCG, Brunate

• Vintage: 2008

• Grape variety: 100% Nebbiolo

• Vineyard: Brunate, one of La Morra’s great crus

• Vineyard exposure: East–southeast

• Planting density: 4,000–6,000 vines per hectare

• Yield per vine: 500 g

• First vintage: 1988

• Typical production: 3,000–3,500 bottles

• Fermentation: Steel

• Serving temperature: 15–16°C

• Critic score: 98/100 — Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate / Vinous

• Drinking window: 2018–2033, per Antonio Galloni

The Producer

Roberto Voerzio founded his estate in 1986 in La Morra, in the heart of the Langhe. The domaine is renowned for its meticulous vineyard work and exceptionally low yields, which give its Barolos unusual density, depth and aromatic precision.

Voerzio’s Brunate has been produced since the estate’s first harvest in 1988. The wine is sourced from the Brunate vineyard, planted at 4,000–6,000 vines per hectare and restricted to just 500 grams of fruit per vine—an approach that prioritizes concentration and vineyard expression over volume.

Vineyard and Vintage

Brunate is one of the great crus of La Morra and of Barolo as a whole. It is among the zone’s higher-altitude vineyards, giving the classic La Morra profile of red fruit and floral lift, together with spice and mineral notes less commonly associated with the commune.

The 2008 growing season was cold from beginning to end, according to Roberto Voerzio. The resulting wines are powerful and tannic, but also possess the balance and pedigree to reward extended cellaring.

Vinification and Ageing

The grapes are 100% Nebbiolo, harvested from late September to early October and fermented in steel.

For the 2008 vintage, Voerzio adopted a notable change in élevage: the Barolos spent their first year in equal parts large cask and barrique, followed by a second year in French oak barrels, only 20% of which were new. This marked a stylistic turning point for the estate, reintroducing a more traditional cask component alongside French oak.

Tasting Profile

The 2008 Brunate is a profound, beautifully balanced Barolo with both power and restraint. Antonio Galloni describes layers of freshly cut flowers, mint, liquorice, hard candy and dark red fruit, supported by serious tannins and a huge, dramatic finish.

Justerini & Brooks highlights its aromatic, sweetly juicy fruit and long, complex palate: cinnamon, ground ginger, mulberry, raspberry and bramble, with bright mineral highlights.

Aroma and flavour: rose and cut flowers, mint, dark cherry and red berries, mulberry, bramble, liquorice, sweet spice, cinnamon, ginger and mineral notes.

Palate: full yet weightless, with fine but firm Nebbiolo tannins, vibrant acidity, layered fruit and exceptional length.

Style: a refined, age-worthy modern-classic Barolo—concentrated and deeply fruited, but not showy; its elegance and persistence are central to its character.

Drinking Window

Antonio Galloni assigned an anticipated maturity window of 2018–2033, noting that the wine needed much of a decade to become fully expressive.

For current drinking, decanting is strongly recommended. Open, decant and allow the wine plenty of air—Galloni observed that following it over several days was especially rewarding.

Food Pairing

Serve at 15–16°C with rich Piedmontese and game-led dishes: braised beef, beef tartare with white truffle, roasted veal, venison, wild mushroom risotto, aged cheeses such as Parmigiano-Reggiano or Castelmagno, and truffle-based preparations.

Critical Recognition

Antonio Galloni rated the 2008 Roberto Voerzio Barolo Brunate 98/100 in both The Wine Advocate and Vinous, calling it “utterly impeccable,” “dazzling,” and a wine whose length and weightless elegance recall the greatest Burgundies.

Justerini & Brooks also placed it among the top wines of Voerzio’s 2008 range, alongside his Cerequio.

Collector Note

This is a highly collectible, single-vineyard Barolo from one of Piedmont’s most sought-after producers. With only around 3,000–3,500 bottles produced in a typical vintage, its scarcity, critical acclaim and long drinking window make the 2008 Brunate particularly compelling for serious Nebbiolo collectors.

Recommended serving: decant for 2–3 hours before serving at 15–16°C; use a large Burgundy-style or wide-bowled Nebbiolo glass.

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Embark on a journey of luxury with Roberto Voerzio Barolo Brunate 2008 MAGNUM. From the esteemed Brunate vineyard in Piedmont, this Barolo exemplifies the artistry of winemaker Roberto Voerzio. With its deep garnet color, the wine invites you to explore its complex aromas of dark cherries, dried roses, tobacco, and hints of spices. On the palate, it unveils a symphony of flavors, seamlessly integrating ripe fruit, velvety tannins, and well-balanced acidity.

The MAGNUM format adds a touch of grandeur to this exceptional wine, ensuring a memorable experience. Pair it with hearty dishes like braised meats or aged cheeses to enhance its richness and depth. Roberto Voerzio Barolo Brunate 2008 MAGNUM is a true masterpiece that will captivate wine enthusiasts and collectors alike.