Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Always a classical wine, the Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Gresy 2021 Barbaresco Martinenga brings us the sharpness and power of an epic vintage. This wine has a medium-dark luminous color and is light on its feet. The aromas are bright and lively with fresh berry and cassis. The oak contouring is delicate, and the wine benefits structurally from healthy skins, grapes and pulp. There is a delightful hint of Nebbiolo sweetness on the close.
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James Suckling
A graceful style for this wine, showing strawberries, blood oranges, peachy vibrancy and mint. Medium-bodied on the palate, it has gentle tannins with woven acidity and overall freshness. The superpolished aftertaste is juicy, youthful and flavorful. A contemporary Barbaresco. Drink or hold.
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Vinous
The 2021 Barbaresco Martinenga is a fine introduction to the Barbarescos in the range. Aromatic and gracious, with a lovely mid-palate presence, the 2021 is a total delight. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, tobacco and rose petals are nicely laced together. Fine, silky tannins support the long, beautifully persistent finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine's nose offers a delightful blend of cranberry and cherry, accompanied by a whisper of rose, palo santo, and dried herbs. On the palate, it shines with the richness of wild berry jam and the comforting warmth of black tea. Its bright finish, reminiscent of cherry skin, adds a final touch of elegance, ensuring an assured and regal experience.
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Wine Spectator
A racy style, this red delivers cherry, raspberry and sweet spice flavors, with touches of eucalyptus, all matched to a solid base of tannins. Ends with notes of coffee and spices. Best from 2027 through 2040.
Responsible for some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world, Nebbiolo, named for the ubiquitous autumnal fog (called nebbia in Italian), is the star variety of northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Grown throughout the area, as well as in the neighboring Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina, it reaches its highest potential in the Piedmontese villages of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero. Outside of Italy, growers are still very much in the experimentation stage but some success has been achieved in parts of California. Somm Secret—If you’re new to Nebbiolo, start with a charming, wallet-friendly, early-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d'Alba.
A wine that most perfectly conveys the spirit and essence of its place, Barbaresco is true reflection of terroir. Its star grape, like that in the neighboring Barolo region, is Nebbiolo. Four townships within the Barbaresco zone can produce Barbaresco: the actual village of Barbaresco, as well as Neive, Treiso and San Rocco Seno d'Elvio.
Broadly speaking there are more similarities in the soils of Barbaresco and Barolo than there are differences. Barbaresco’s soils are approximately of the same two major soil types as Barolo: blue-grey marl of the Tortonion epoch, producing more fragile and aromatic characteristics, and Helvetian white yellow marl, which produces wines with more structure and tannins.
Nebbiolo ripens earlier in Barbaresco than in Barolo, primarily due to the vineyards’ proximity to the Tanaro River and lower elevations. While the wines here are still powerful, Barbaresco expresses a more feminine side of Nebbiolo, often with softer tannins, delicate fruit and an elegant perfume. Typical in a well-made Barbaresco are expressions of rose petal, cherry, strawberry, violets, smoke and spice. These wines need a few years before they reach their peak, the best of which need over a decade or longer. Bottle aging adds more savory characteristics, such as earth, iron and dried fruit.