Brunella
broo-NEL-lah
Barolo's only monopole MGA, owned entirely by Boroli since records begin, with a documented history stretching back to 1624.
Brunella is a tiny 2.7-hectare Barolo MGA in Castiglione Falletto, and the only monopole cru in Barolo's entire MGA system. Boroli owns the site outright and released the first single-vineyard MGA bottling from the 2013 vintage. Documented since 1624, it sits at the western end of the celebrated Villero ridge.
- Size: 6.7 acres (approximately 2.7 hectares)
- Parent commune: Castiglione Falletto, Barolo DOCG
- The only monopole MGA in Barolo history, owned entirely by Boroli
- First bottled as a single-vineyard MGA with the 2013 vintage
- Documented in historical records since 1624, over 400 years of wine production
- Classified as a first-class cru by Renato Ratti in 1965
- Located at the western end of the Villero ridge at 318 meters elevation
History and Classification
Brunella carries one of the longest documented histories of any Barolo MGA, with written records confirming vineyard activity as far back as 1624. That places its wine production tradition at over 400 years, predating the formal codification of Barolo as a wine style by more than two centuries. The vineyard's quality was formally recognized by the pioneering ampelographer and producer Renato Ratti, who classified Brunella as a first-class cru in his landmark 1965 map of the Barolo zone. When Italy's Barolo MGA system was formalized and producers began releasing designated single-vineyard bottlings, Brunella achieved a further distinction: it became the only monopole MGA in Barolo history, with Boroli as its sole owner.
- Documented in records since 1624, one of Barolo's oldest attested vineyard sites
- Classified first-class cru by Renato Ratti's 1965 Barolo map
- Sole monopole MGA in the entire Barolo appellation
- First MGA single-vineyard release produced from the 2013 vintage
Location and Geography
Brunella sits at the western end of the Villero ridge within the commune of Castiglione Falletto, one of the eleven communes permitted to produce Barolo. At 318 meters elevation and with south, east, and southwest-facing aspects, the vineyard benefits from extended sun exposure throughout the growing season. This multi-directional aspect captures morning light from the east and afternoon warmth from the south and southwest, supporting thorough Nebbiolo ripening in a zone already well regarded for its combination of structure and aromatic finesse.
- Elevation: 318 meters above sea level
- Aspects: south, east, and southwest facing
- Positioned at the western end of the Villero ridge
- Commune: Castiglione Falletto, Barolo DOCG
Soils and Climate
The soils at Brunella are calcareous clay interspersed with veins of sand, with Sant'Agata marl appearing at approximately 50 centimeters depth. Sant'Agata marl is a hallmark of many top Barolo sites and contributes the mineral tension and structural backbone that defines the appellation's finest wines. The clay component retains moisture and moderates vine stress during dry summers, while the sandy veins improve drainage and contribute aromatic lift. The site benefits from a continental climate with a favorable microclimate that supports Nebbiolo ripening, the variety's famously late-ripening character making site selection especially critical.
- Calcareous clay topsoil with veins of sand
- Sant'Agata marl subsoil at approximately 50cm depth
- Continental climate with a favorable microclimate for Nebbiolo
- Soil composition supports both structure and aromatic complexity
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Brunella produces full-bodied Barolo with the elegance and structure characteristic of Castiglione Falletto. Expect floral aromatics typical of Nebbiolo, especially violet and rose, alongside notes of dark cherry, licorice, mineral, and spice. The tannins are persistent and built for long aging, as is standard for the Barolo appellation. The sand content in the soil lends aromatic expressiveness, while the clay and marl underpin the wine's framework and longevity. Boroli's monopole bottling offers collectors and students a rare opportunity to study a single-site Barolo with an unbroken single-owner history.
- Full-bodied with floral aromatics: violet, rose
- Flavor notes of dark cherry, licorice, mineral, and spice
- Persistent tannins suited to extended cellaring
- Elegance and structure typical of Castiglione Falletto
Full-bodied Barolo showing violet and rose florals on the nose, with dark cherry, licorice, mineral, and spice on the palate. Persistent, structured tannins with a long finish. The sandy soil component lifts aromatics while the calcareous clay and Sant'Agata marl provide depth and age-worthiness.
- Boroli Barolo Brunella MGA$80-120The only producer able to bottle this monopole MGA; definitive expression of Brunella's structure and florality.Find →
- Brunella is the only monopole MGA in the entire Barolo appellation; sole owner is Boroli.
- First single-vineyard MGA bottling was produced from the 2013 vintage.
- Documented since 1624, making it one of Barolo's oldest historically attested vineyard sites.
- Renato Ratti classified Brunella as a first-class cru in his landmark 1965 Barolo map.
- Soils are calcareous clay with sand veins over Sant'Agata marl subsoil at approximately 50cm; aspect is south, east, and southwest at 318 meters elevation.