Barbaresco Martinenga (2000)

About this wine

This 2000 Barbaresco comes from the historic Martinenga cru in the heart of Barbaresco and is made entirely from Nebbiolo. In the glass it shows a garnet red color with gentle orange reflections that speak to its bottle age. The nose is nuanced and expressive with plum and cherry layered with notes of licorice, dried rose, mint, tea leaf and soft pipe tobacco. On the palate it is full bodied yet refined, with ripe red and black fruit, hints of vanilla from oak aging and a touch of earthy spice. The tannins are fine and well integrated now, giving a silky texture while the acidity keeps the wine fresh and lively. This wine was aged in French barriques and large Slavonian oak casks for about two years, which helps explain its mix of sweet spice and classic Barbaresco structure. As a mature vintage it now emphasizes tertiary notes of dried flowers, leather and forest floor along with its lingering, savory finish.

About the grape

Nebbiolo is an ancient grape native to Piedmont in northwestern Italy, first documented in the region several centuries ago and now the only permitted variety for Barbaresco. Its name likely comes from the autumn fog that often blankets the Langhe hills, and the grape buds early but ripens very late, so growers in Martinenga seek warm, south facing slopes to achieve full maturity. In this Marchesi di Gresy Barbaresco Martinenga 2000, Nebbiolo is planted on calcareous marl soils in the Martinenga cru, which helps the vines develop thick skins and high natural acidity that translate into structure and longevity. The estate typically trains Nebbiolo on vertical shoot positioned Guyot and controls yields through green harvest so that the fruit from this single vineyard bottling expresses the character of Barbaresco with precision and depth.

Quick facts

• 🏰 Martinenga is the only officially recognized single vineyard monopole in the entire Barbaresco area so your 2000 bottle comes from a cru owned and farmed exclusively by Marchesi di Gresy since 1797
• 🎭 The vineyard forms a natural amphitheater facing south so the 2000 Barbaresco Martinenga is literally grown on slopes shaped like a tiny stadium that traps sun and protects the vines
• 🌹 Nebbiolo in Martinenga includes old local biotypes Michet Lampia and even the rare Nebbiolo Rose which add extra layers of perfume and complexity to mature vintages like 2000
• ⏳ For almost two centuries the family sold these prized Martinenga grapes to others and only in 1973 did Alberto di Gresy decide to bottle his own Barbaresco making your 2000 part of the estates early modern history
• 🌏 A New Zealander winemaker Jeff Chilcott moved halfway around the world in 1990 to work at Marchesi di Gresy so your 2000 vintage unites Italian noble land with Kiwi cellar know how in the same glass

Palate profile