Barolo with Poise and Power
The 2021 Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo is the latest chapter in a story that helped shape modern Barolo. It’s a wine that carries the signature of a visionary—Renato Ratti—whose influence on the Langhe stretches far beyond the boundaries of his estate. With this release, his son Pietro continues to craft wines of remarkable poise, precision, and place.
Marcenasco is a singular vineyard, historically documented as growing Nebbiolo for centuries. Ratti was among the first to advocate for vineyard distinction in Barolo, and this bottling is the result of decades of belief in the character and uniqueness of specific sites. Situated just below the Abbey of San Martino di Marcenasco in La Morra, the vineyard benefits from ideal southern exposures and a gentle slope that provides both elegance and structure. The 2021 vintage captures this duality with thrilling clarity.
Here, Nebbiolo is both powerful and restrained. The wine shows the floral lift and graceful tannins of La Morra, but beneath that is a spine of intensity and age-worthy depth. From first pour, Marcenasco unfolds with layers of black cherry, rose, menthol, and spice, all woven through a firm, mineral-accented structure. It’s already expressive but built to evolve—this is Barolo that honors the past while quietly building its legacy for the future.
Renato Ratti’s contributions to the region extend beyond the wine in the glass. He was a pioneer in identifying the importance of terroir in Barolo, and a founding force behind the iconic Albeisa bottle—now used by hundreds of producers across the Langhe. His belief that land, time, and climate are the pillars of great winemaking continues to guide the estate today. The Marcenasco Barolo embodies this legacy, with long aging in large oak and refinement in bottle to highlight finesse, not force.
The Ratti philosophy has always centered on land, climate, and time—three forces that shape not just the wine, but its identity. In Marcenasco, those elements find harmony. It’s a wine that speaks is beautiful right out of the bottle, alive right off the bat but with the dense core of power that shows ageability for the long term. This is a wine worth journeying with across the years; open a bottle every year or two to see how it’s evolved until it’s an old friend to be visited, year after year.
Assertive aromas of graphite, violets, mint and chalky minerality. A stunning, precise wine focused on elegance, with citrus flavors, a full body and lavish, velvety tannins supported by freshness. Long, youthful and savory aftertaste. Try from 2026, but best after 2030.
97 Points, James Suckling
