Brovia

So much time has passed and so much has happened since I was last welcomed at this winery by siblings Giacinto and Marina Brovia, people whose character and skills were certainly not lacking. Closing my eyes and tasting today’s wines reveal that Alex Sanchez Solana, Giacinto’s son-in-law and husband of Elena Brovia (who is in charge of the viticultural side), has succeeded in the not-insignificant task of seamlessly taking on the mantle of that era. A meticulous work of stylistic refinement that has brought already excellent wines to a point where it competes regularly and fearlessly with the best of the denomination.
Therefore, as with other prestigious wineries, it’s very difficult to rank its offering. The Rocche di Castiglione, whose vineyard was purchased at night and sealed with a simple handshake, has little to envy of the Barolo Brea Vigna Cà Mia, a magnificent crowning achievement of a viticultural project that began in 1995 and ended just over twenty years later. The Barolo Garblet Sué would, by contrast, have something to envy the two giants just mentioned (as well as Villero); a wine that, perhaps aided by such different vintages today, has instead managed to add to the generous fruit and structure a touch of detail and contrast capable of definitively improving its personality and drinkability.

• Additional notes
• First vintage bottled: 1953
• Gianetto MGA vineyards can also contribute to the classic Barolo.
• Barolo Brea Vigna Cà Mia was marketed under the name Barolo Cà Mia until the 2009 vintage.
• Barolo Rocche di Castiglione was marketed under the name Barolo Rocche (dei Brovia) until the 2009 vintage.
• Brovia was the first winery to use the Garblet Suè MGA (or Altenasso) name on a Barolo label with their 1985 vintage.