Fratelli Brovia 2020: Stunning Barolos with Scores to Match

Monica Larner’s latest Piedmont report in The Wine Advocate, apart from extolling the virtues of the upcoming 2021s, as a vintage overall that “can be grouped with 2001, 2010 and 2016 as one of the best since the start of the new millennium”, includes previously missing notes on last year’s releases from a host of top producers, including Roagna and Brovia.

It’s no secret that the release of the 2020 Barolos came at a time of uncertainty in the market. However, our experience tasting in the region inspired confidence in the superb quality of 2020. A vintage that we described last year as having great textural radiance and finesse, it remains our view that collectors of Italian wine will regret not keeping in with 2020 when the trio of 2019, 2020 and 2021 comes to represent an acclaimed trilogy in the years to come.

The Brovia 2020 collection speaks eloquently to this. Fragrant, detailed, precise, textured and energetic, Alex and Elena’s 2020s have been spellbinding on every occasion of tasting, from barrel to bottle – and now rank amongst the top scoring wines.

As one of Barolo’s most in-demand producers and a bona-fide small family winery, it is rare for wines not to sell out on release. As such, we take the opportunity to re-offer the Brovia 2020 collection at the original release prices, confident that these stunning Barolos will make for beautifully refined drinking in future.

Rocche di Castiglione

"Here is another excellent wine from Brovia. The 2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is angular and sharp with fine, firm tannins and a beautiful bouquet that opens slowly to tart cherry aromas, blue flower, crushed stone and fleur de sel. Those mineral sensations cut right into the finish, giving shape and contouring. This is a generous vintage with bright, accessible and incredibly charming qualities. Production is 5,000 bottles." – 97pts, Monica Larner.

Brea Vigna Ca’ Mia

"This is Brovia's main wine from Serralunga d'Alba. With the amber-colored bottle label, the 2020 Barolo Brea Vigna Ca' Mia has a similar mineral element like we saw in Brovia's wines from Castiglione Falletto, only here they appear along the rusty or ferrous side of the spectrum. There are blue and red fruits, but you also get baked brick, lavender and grilled herb. This wine is set up for long cellar aging. Production is 5,000 bottles." – 96+ pts, Monica Larner.

Villero

"From the heart of Castiglione Falletto, the 2020 Barolo Villero (with 5,000 bottles made) is another gorgeous wine from Brovia that boasts incredible focus and precision that transcends both the bouquet and the palate. The wine is etched, fine and polished with pronounced minerality that gives backbone and framing to a delicate core of red fruit flavors. The 2020 vintage is slightly more accessible overall, but the wine also offers impressive elegance too." – 96pts, Monica Larner.