Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo Reviews
Learn More About Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo Through its Reviews.
2018 Renato Ratti
Marcenasco Barolo Reviews
Suggested Retail Price $75.00
96 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
This stunning, delicious red boasts enticing scents of camphor, rose petal, small red berry, and spice while the delicious palate stuns with strawberry compote, baking spice, and star anise. Smooth, silky tannins and fresh acidity keep it perfectly balanced. Drink 2024–2030.
93 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
This is a classic wine proudly made with consistency over the years by the Ratti family. The 2018 Barolo Marcenasco comes from a vineyard in La Morra that has always been farmed by this estate (but that is not an official MGA). However, it is a brand in its own right known for its especially silky tannins and delicate fiber. The wine shows close-knit aromas of small berries, candied violet and crushed stone.
92 Pointz James Suckling
Nutty red fruit on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with a light but refined structure and a decent, savory finish.
2017 Renato Ratti Marcenasco
Barolo Reviews
96 Pointz James Suckling
This is so perfumed and beautiful with cherries, strawberries, and dried flowers that follow through to a medium to full body with firm, fine tannins, and a long, energetic finish. All about length and finesse. Drink in 2024.
94 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
Camphor-pressed rose and oak-driven spice aromas come to the forefront. The smooth, full-bodied palate features spiced cranberry, dried cherry, licorice, and coffee bean framed in tightly wound, fine-grained tannins that clench the close. Drink 2025–2032
92 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Although it is not an official MGA vineyard designation, the Marcenasco vineyard is located directly under the Ratti family winery and is the site most historically linked to the legacy of this estate. The Renato Ratti 2017 Barolo Marcenasco is balanced and fine with a long and polished sensation. Like the other wines in this estate portfolio, the hot vintage is played forward in terms of dried fruit aromas and dusty tannins and not overt jamminess or ripeness. This makes for a thinner mouthfeel and ultimately a shorter drinking window.
90 Pointz Wine Spectator
Plum, leather, spice, and tar flavors highlight this lively red, with dusty tannins coating the finish. Not that expressive today, yet long.
2016 Renato Ratti Marcenasco
Barolo Reviews
97 Pointz Wine Enthusiast Editors’ Choice
Iris, rose, botanical herb and dark spice aromas lead the way in this fragrant red, along with an enticing whiff of graphite. Elegantly structured and boasting youthful tension, the vibrant palate delivers juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, cinnamon, and star anise framed in taut, refined tannins. It’s balanced and focused, with bright acidity. Drink 2024–2036.
94 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
This is one of the most versatile, accessible and inviting wines to be found anywhere in the Barolo appellation. That is the legacy of this wine, and the Renato Ratti 2016 Barolo Marcenasco proudly carries forward in this tradition. Indeed, it takes it a big step forward, as this is my favorite edition tasted in years. Fruit comes from a single vineyard located just outside the winery door. Marcenasco was farmed by Renato Ratti and his son Piero, and it remains the flagship of this estate. This vintage is beautifully perfumed and vibrant, and the wine tastes terrific just out of the gate. The finish is delicate, tightly knit, and feathery light on the palate.
92 Pointz James Suckling
A pure, subtle Barolo 2016, showing poached strawberries, red-apple tart, rose water, and dried cloves. Medium-bodied and tight with fine tannins, steely acidity, and a medium-chewy finish. Drink from 2022.
92 Pointz Wine Spectator
Aromas and flavors of macerated cherry, raspberry, spice, earth and burnished wood mark this lithe, taut red, which is a bit reticent now, but has the balance and intensity to reveal more facets in due time. Shows excellent balance and length overall.
2015 Renato Ratti Marcenasco
Barolo Reviews
96 Pointz Wine Enthusiast Editors’ Choice
#30 Wine Enthusiast
Top 100 Wines of 2019
Enticing scents of ripe wild berry, star anise, menthol, and fragrant blue flower mingle with whiffs of camphor and espresso. The smooth, precise palate offers crushed raspberry, Marasca cherry, licorice, and dried botanical herbs alongside fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity lifts the finish. Enjoy through 2027. LUX Wines.
95 Pointz Wine Spectator
#27 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2019
A deep well of macerated cherry, plum, freshly cut grass, white pepper, and tar flavors highlights this dense, muscular red. Quickly goes from enticing to closed down as the beefy tannins ply the finish. All the components are there. Best from 2022 through 2043.
93 Pointz James Suckling
The palate here has a very succulent and gently chalky edge with an array of fresh and dried cherries, spices, and flowers. The palate has a juicy and succulent feel with fresh, musk-infused cherries, raspberries, and anise.
92 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
This is a beautifully fully and generous expression from a vineyard that has historically been farmed by the Ratti family of La Morra. The Marcenasco cru is located directly under the winery, and although it is not in the official list of MGA crus, the vineyard name is registered to this winery. In the 2015 Barolo Marcenasco, you get the full fruit and dark berry nuances of the vintage with pretty softness and approachable, supple tannins. This wine celebrated its 50th anniversary (1965-2015) with this vintage.
2014 Renato Ratti Marcenasco
Barolo Reviews
92 Pointz James Suckling
Sweet-smelling dried red cherries, potpourri, and herbal accents, all leading to a medium-weight palate. Has approachable, easy, red-berry flavors. A lighter style.
92 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of wild berry, pressed rose, ground clove, and a balsamic note of menthol lead the way. Elegantly structured, the youthfully austere, precise palate delivers cherry, cranberry, star anise and crushed mint while bright acidity and tightly wound tannins provide the taut framework. Give it time to fully unwind and develop. Drink 2024–2029.
91 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Marcenasco is a trademarked name that belongs to the Renato Ratti estate, but it also refers to a vineyard in the La Morra township. The 2014 Barolo Marcenasco offers dark and rich aromas of pressed rose with dark fruit, smoke, and tar. The fruit almost appears to be on the ripe side, yet the wine also reveals the depth and the sophistication of aged Nebbiolo. In the mouth, Marcenasco is a bit thinner than your average vintage, and it has touches of sour cherry fruit on the close.
90 Pointz Wine Spectator
Mint, fresh-cut hay, and juniper aromas give way to cherry and underbrush flavors. Rich in the middle, conceding to assertive tannins on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2035.
2013 Renato Ratti Marcenasco
Barolo Reviews
95 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
#54 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 of 2017
Wild berry, crushed herb, violet, and baking spice scents lift out of the glass along with a whiff of menthol. Focused and elegantly structured, the delicious palate doles out ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, cinnamon, sage, and white pepper, while refined tannins and bright acidity provide supple support and impeccable balance. Drink 2023–2033.
94 Pointz James Suckling
A Barolo with a solid core of ripe fruit and velvety tannins that are muscular and powerful. Medium-to full-bodied, structured and chewy. Needs two or three years to soften.
93 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2013 Barolo Marcenasco is Renato Ratti’s flagship wine that was first produced in 1965. The Marcenasco cru in La Morra has responded well to this slightly cooler vintage. The wine shows a great deal of sharpness and precision. Beautiful cherry fruit segues to spice, tar, and rose petal. Judging by the nose alone, this Barolo almost appears ready to drink now. Once you taste it, however, the youth of the tannins and the brightness of the primary fruit firmly suggest that more bottle aging will do the wine wonders.
2012 Renato Ratti Marcenasco
Barolo Reviews
94 Pointz James Suckling
Fascinating aromas of dried flowers, cherry, and fresh spices. Very subtle nose. Full body, ultra-fine tannins, and a long, flavorful finish. So pretty and polished. Harmony in the bottle. One of the best Marcenascos in memory.
93 Pointz Wine Spectator
Intense aromas of cherry, tar, wild herb and camphor signal this rich, fleshy red. Cherry fruit comes forward, while tobacco, licorice and iron notes support. Best from 2019 through 2032.
90 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Compared to the more expressive and immediate Barolo Conca, I found the 2012 Barolo Marcenasco to be slower to open. The bouquet does offer cassis, dark berry, tar and licorice, but the delivery shows less overall intensity. The wine is well balanced in the mouth with silky tannins that are contrasted against pleasing freshness and lasting fruit. I suggest a slightly shorter drinking window for this Barolo from La Morra.
2011 Renato Ratti Marcenasco
Barolo Reviews
92 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The Ratti family has done a terrific job with its well-priced 2011 Barolo Marcenasco. The wine shows ripe fruit at the beginning, but the intensity of the bouquet quickly finds good balance with just a few swift swirls of the glass. Those aromas are painted in broad brush strokes with thick lines of black fruit, spice, rose and anise seed. It shows moderate complexity, but just enough to keep your interest as the wine continues to shift and evolve in the glass. In all, Barolo Marcenasco exhibits a plush, fruit-forward style with soft tannins and rich texture.
91 Pointz Wine Spectator
This sleek version is laced with licorice, leather, cherry and light tar flavors. More savory than fruity, this lingers with tobacco, mineral and spice notes. Balanced and should come together over the near term. Fine length. Best from 2018 through 2029.
2010 Renato Ratti Marcenasco
Barolo Reviews
93 Pointz James Suckling
So much floral character on the nose, plus ripe fruits. Full body with velvety tannins and a fruity finish. Subtle and reserved. Better in 2016.
92 Pointz Wine Spectator
This needs air to reveal a dense core of cherry, currant, tar, and leather flavors, matched to a solid, tightly woven structure. The pointed tannins hold court on the finish for now, but sweet fruit and licorice accents persist. Best from 2017 through 2030.
91 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2010 Barolo Marcenasco is a perfumed and floral wine with pressed violets and crushed rose petal at the front of dark tones of spice and pipe tobacco. The wine shows and exotic, almost spicy personality with a good level of heft and density at the back. It meets your need, should you have it, for a bold, deeply layered Barolo. Drink: 2016-2026.