In Today’s Newsletter:
Armando Parusso:
Modern Barolo with a Twist
Armando Parusso
Modern Barolo with a Twist
Armando Parusso is an iconic and avant-garde producer in Bussia. He is especially known for his unique methods to produce wines with mature tannins and great fruit. During winemaking, he rests the grapes after harvest for several days to allow them to ripen further and then ferments whole cluster, a la Burgundy. Aging occurs in oak barriques with a generous splash of lees. The wines are racked into new barriques after a year, leaning in to the oak influence. The lees are stirred to help preserve the wine against oxygen exposure. The results are generous wines with tannins moderated by the extended pre-fermentation rest and heavily influenced by the extended lees and oak aging. These are unabashedly modern and winning the hearts & palates of critics.
“…what really distinguishes Parusso are his unusual approach to winemaking, his restless curiosity and his daring experiments. He is constantly tweaking his methods to coax more from his Nebbiolo.
“‘Marco is a person who is never quiet. He is like a volcano,’ says Giacomo Conterno, the young winemaker at Aldo Conterno, Parusso’s neighbor in Monforte. “We always need people who are hungry, and Marco is hungry. He always wants more from his wine.'” –Robert Camuto, Wine Spectator 2017
“Marco Parusso makes some of the most idiosyncratic wines in Barolo. The style remains pretty much as it has been for some time. Parusso likes to harvest as late as possible. The fruit is then allowed to rest for a few days, (3 days in 2016 as opposed to 5-6 that was once the norm) prior to being crushed. The single vineyard Barolos are done with 100% whole clusters and aged in oak. The sum of these choices yields singular Barolos that need time to be fully expressive.” –Antonio Galloni, February 2020
“If you follow the work being done at Parusso, you’ll know that this is one of the most dynamic and out-of-the-box wineries in Barolo.” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Arriving ETA January:
Armando Parusso Ornati Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Armando Parusso Ornati Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($149.95) $111 pre-arrival special (that’s only $18.50/bottle!)
Armando Parusso Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Armando Parusso Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 90 points “The Parusso 2018 Langhe Nebbiolo has a wild side with some of the tangy white pepper aromas that you sometimes get with some of the indigenous grapes of Piedmont. The delivery is simple and clean, but don’t underestimate the bold personality that you get here. Those tangy fruit aromas are mixed in with garden herb, licorice and crushed flowers.”
Armando Parusso Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points “A very ripe and decadent red with so much depth and richness. Full-bodied, deep and rich. A big combination of ripe fruit and tannins. Give this a few years to come together. Better after 2022.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Parusso 2016 Barolo offers that distinctive Parusso nose that I have come to understand over the years I have been tasting these wines. There is a touch of ripe fruit, dried grape skins and stems that pop out over rich black fruit, tar and black spice. There’s a sultry and smoky aspect to the wine with extra concentration and tannic astringency on the finish. This vintage is even more structured, suggesting a longer cellar aging time. If you are invested in the Parusso philosophy, this is a good place to start.”
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2016 Barolo is a terrific example of the year. Unusually dark and somber, the 2016 packs a real punch. Black cherry, plum, espresso, licorice, spice and menthol add to the wine’s richness and overall intensity. Far from an easygoing straight Barolo, Parusso’s 2016 is a very serious wine; I wouldn’t dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. Vineyard sources are Mariondino, Mosconi and Bussia – all top sites that are also bottled separately here.”
“…what really distinguishes Parusso are his unusual approach to winemaking, his restless curiosity and his daring experiments. He is constantly tweaking his methods to coax more from his Nebbiolo.
“‘Marco is a person who is never quiet. He is like a volcano,’ says Giacomo Conterno, the young winemaker at Aldo Conterno, Parusso’s neighbor in Monforte. “We always need people who are hungry, and Marco is hungry. He always wants more from his wine.'” –Robert Camuto, Wine Spectator 2017
“Marco Parusso makes some of the most idiosyncratic wines in Barolo. The style remains pretty much as it has been for some time. Parusso likes to harvest as late as possible. The fruit is then allowed to rest for a few days, (3 days in 2016 as opposed to 5-6 that was once the norm) prior to being crushed. The single vineyard Barolos are done with 100% whole clusters and aged in oak. The sum of these choices yields singular Barolos that need time to be fully expressive.” –Antonio Galloni, February 2020
“If you follow the work being done at Parusso, you’ll know that this is one of the most dynamic and out-of-the-box wineries in Barolo.” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Arriving ETA January:
Armando Parusso Ornati Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Armando Parusso Ornati Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($149.95) $111 pre-arrival special (that’s only $18.50/bottle!)
Armando Parusso Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Armando Parusso Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 90 points “The Parusso 2018 Langhe Nebbiolo has a wild side with some of the tangy white pepper aromas that you sometimes get with some of the indigenous grapes of Piedmont. The delivery is simple and clean, but don’t underestimate the bold personality that you get here. Those tangy fruit aromas are mixed in with garden herb, licorice and crushed flowers.”
Armando Parusso Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points “A very ripe and decadent red with so much depth and richness. Full-bodied, deep and rich. A big combination of ripe fruit and tannins. Give this a few years to come together. Better after 2022.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Parusso 2016 Barolo offers that distinctive Parusso nose that I have come to understand over the years I have been tasting these wines. There is a touch of ripe fruit, dried grape skins and stems that pop out over rich black fruit, tar and black spice. There’s a sultry and smoky aspect to the wine with extra concentration and tannic astringency on the finish. This vintage is even more structured, suggesting a longer cellar aging time. If you are invested in the Parusso philosophy, this is a good place to start.”
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2016 Barolo is a terrific example of the year. Unusually dark and somber, the 2016 packs a real punch. Black cherry, plum, espresso, licorice, spice and menthol add to the wine’s richness and overall intensity. Far from an easygoing straight Barolo, Parusso’s 2016 is a very serious wine; I wouldn’t dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. Vineyard sources are Mariondino, Mosconi and Bussia – all top sites that are also bottled separately here.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $43
Armando Parusso Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “Marco Parusso’s 2016 Barolo Bussia brings together all the best elements of his style and year in a wine that is simply brilliant. Sweet floral notes, dark red fruit, mint, blood orange and spice infuse the 2016 with myriad layers of complexity. A bold, dramatic Barolo made from Rocche and Munie fruit, the 2016 is going to need a number of years to be at its best.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “This is one of the most important single-vineyard expressions from Marco and Tiziana Parusso, a formidable brother and sister team whose winery is located at the edge of Monforte d’Alba on the road to Castiglione Falletto. Their 2016 Barolo Bussia is a dark and brooding expression with some of those aromas of Nebbiolo stems and skins that give extra power and density to the wine. I’d suggest a pairing of succulent red meat, but you definitely need to put this wine aside for more time. This classic vintage is especially well suited to cellar aging. The structure of this Bussia is a tiny bit more pliant and approachable compared to the more astringent Mosconi.”
James Suckling 95 points “Wild strawberries and plums with spices, dried flowers and hazelnuts. It’s full-bodied, yet tight, fine and focused with lovely balance and finesse. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Armando Parusso Mariondino, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barolo Mariondino is another potent, heady wine in this range. The red fruit and floral notes typical of this site emerge, but the Mariondino is big and very dark in 2016. Like all of these Barolos, the Mariondino is built for the long haul. In most vintages, Mariondino is a Barolo of sensuality but the 2016 is a real powerhouse. Time in the glass brings out red fruit and floral notes, but this is an XL Barolo.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Barolo Mariondino sees fruit from a vineyard not too far from the Parusso winery in Castiglione Falletto. It opens to sultry and intense aromas. Generally speaking, the wines of this estate achieve a level of richness and concentration that you don’t see anywhere else in the appellation. The fruit is slightly dehydrated before fermentation and a good percentage of stem inclusion is used. There is a note of sweet, sun-ripened fruit on the close, and you taste the actual skins of the grapes. Stern tannins mark the close.”
James Suckling 94 points “Extremely perfumed with dried flowers, such as roses and lilacs, complementing the ripe strawberry and plum character. Full-bodied on the attack with a fine tannin profile and a fresh finish. Drinkable now, but needs a year or two to open. Better after 2021.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Armando Parusso Mosconi, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “An exotic, high-toned Barolo with blackberry, walnut and dried-flower aromas and flavors, as well as orange undertones. It’s full-bodied with spices and ripe fruit. Figs, too. Long and wild. Drink or hold.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Barolo Mosconi shows all the breadth and richness that is typical of this Monforte site. Dark fruit, chocolate, spice, new leather, menthol, sage and crushed rocks build in an explosive, tannic Barolo that is going to need at least a few years in bottle to come together. Powerful, deep and resonant, this dark, brooding Barolo has a ton to offer.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The Parusso 2016 Barolo Mosconi exhibits that same power, intensity and dark fruit with aromas of grape skins and vinous components. Marco Parusso lets his grapes undergo a very light appassimento in a cold storage room before pressing, and he uses a percentage of whole-cluster fruit with stems. Those strong flavors and tannins are very much on notice. You get hints of white pepper on this very powerful and tannic wine that won’t be accessible until at least 10 years after the harvest, or probably more.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $124.95
Armando Parusso Etichetta Oro Bussia Riserva, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 99 points “A wild, rich Barolo, showing the richness of the vintage with plums, toffee and smoked meat. Full-bodied, dense and layered with exotic and gamy fruit at the end. A wonderful old release. Special wine. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
In Stock Now from Armando Parusso:
Armando Parusso Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 21 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “This is one of the greatest wines I have ever had from here. So much ripe cherry, raspberry and floral character. Medium body, super-refined tannins and a long and flavorful finish. So much going on here. Better in 2021.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2013 Barolo Bussia is my favorite wine among Marco Parusso’s new releases. This wine shows an extraordinary level of richness and softness that speaks to the unique winemaking style proposed by this innovative producer. The Bussia cru tends to produce softer and finer fruit characteristics. The bouquet delivers elegant notes of wild berry, forest floor and white truffle with mineral notes such as pencil shaving delicately tucked in at the back. The wine sees up to 60% stem inclusion and maceration times are long. This Barolo is articulate and profoundly expressive.”
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When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
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