(Wine Advocate Score 93) Nebbiolo from the Valmaggiore vineyard in Roero is quickly becoming one of my Italian wine passions. Only a handful of Piedmont producers make wine here and one of them is the Marengo family. The vineyard parcel belonged to Eugenia Marengo's (Marco's wife) family. Valmaggiore has dramatically vertical slopes that would be terraced in any other part of the world in order to make working here easier. For whatever reason, terraces were never built here, making for dangerously slippery conditions during rain. The 2016 Nebbiolo d'Alba Vigna Valmaggiore sees fruit sourced from 60-year-old vines. This wine offers an excellent starting point for those who want to taste the special Valmaggiore Nebbiolo. Keeping in character, this wine delivers a unique aromatic profile with dried violets and herbs. The mouthfeel shows deep complexity and brilliant freshness.
