Brezza : Sarmassa Vigna Bricco Riserva 2015

Tasting characteristics and advice for Brezza’s Sarmassa Vigna Bricco Riserva 2015

Tasting

Color
This wine displays a bright ruby-red hue that evolves toward garnet highlights, reflecting the wine’s concentration and maturity.

Nose
The bouquet reveals remarkable aromatic complexity. Initial floral notes of dried rose and white flowers intertwine with spicy nuances of white and black pepper, cinnamon, and licorice. With aeration, the nose develops secondary aromas of tobacco, leather, and forest floor, alongside delicate red fruits such as cherry and wild strawberry. Subtle touches of candied orange peel and chocolate complete this refined aromatic palette.

Palate
The attack is full-bodied and well-balanced, revealing flavors of fresh red and black fruits supported by fine mineral precision characteristic of the Sarmassa terroir. The tannic structure impresses with its elegance and velvety finesse, offering a creamy texture with no astringency. The well-present acidity brings freshness and definition to the whole. The finish lingers at length on spicy notes that gradually evolve into mineral and floral impressions interwoven with leather and tobacco.

Food and wine pairings
This Barolo Riserva pairs beautifully with rich, structured dishes. It is an ideal match for brasato al Barolo, braised meats, game such as wild boar or venison, as well as a risotto with Piedmont white truffles. Aged cheeses such as Castelmagno, aged Parmigiano Reggiano, or Toma Piemontese also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring
It is recommended to serve the Sarmassa Vigna Bricco Riserva 2015 at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Decanting for at least one hour before serving will allow the wine to fully express its aromatic complexity. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to develop favorably until around 2034.

An outstanding Barolo Riserva from the Sarmassa cru in Piedmont

The estate
Founded in 1885 in Piedmont, the Brezza estate embodies four generations of traditional winemaking excellence at the heart of the Barolo appellation. Under the leadership of Enzo Brezza, the fourth generation, supported by his cousin Francesco, the estate farms around twenty to twenty-three hectares under certified organic viticulture. The domaine stands out for its parcels in the historic crus Cannubi, Sarmassa, and Castellero, vinified using traditional methods favoring spontaneous fermentations, extended macerations, and aging in large, untoasted Slavonian oak casks. Its pioneering adoption of glass stoppers and commitment to organic viticulture position Brezza as an essential benchmark for traditional Barolo.

The vineyard
The Sarmassa Vigna Bricco comes from an exceptional 0.4-hectare plot located in the Sarmassa cru, within the Barolo appellation. Planted in 2000, this vineyard benefits from a due-south exposure at 250 meters above sea level, in an area known for being the first to see the snow melt in spring thanks to optimal sunshine. The clay-silt soils composed of fossil marls from Sant'Agata of Tortonian age give the wine its remarkable minerality.

The vintage
The 2015 vintage was marked by particularly favorable climatic conditions in Piedmont. After a mild winter and an even spring, summer brought high temperatures frequently reaching 40°C, with exceptional sunshine from mid-June through July. Rain in May and early June built up sufficient water reserves, allowing the vines to get through this hot period without stress. Nebbiolo ripening proceeded optimally, with the harvest carried out around ten days earlier than the previous year.

Winemaking and aging
The Sarmassa Vigna Bricco Riserva 2015 is vinified according to the traditional methods of the Brezza estate. Fermentation occurs spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts, in temperature-controlled tanks, with regular pump-overs to gently extract color and tannins. Maceration continues for several weeks. The wine is then aged for twenty-four months in large Slavonian oak casks of 1,500 to 3,000 liters, fire-bent but not toasted, allowing gentle oxygenation without pronounced oaky aromatics. After this time in wood, the wine continues to mature for a further forty-eight months in bottle before release. No fining or filtration is carried out, thereby preserving the wine’s integrity and complexity.

Grape variety
100% Nebbiolo