“BOROLI MONOPOLE • 93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING”
Boroli 2015 Barolo Brunella DOCG – Piedmont, Italy
93 Points – James Suckling
92 Points – Falstaff
Product Description
The Boroli 2015 Barolo Brunella DOCG is a rare single-vineyard Barolo from one of the historic sites of Castiglione Falletto, produced entirely from Nebbiolo grown in the Brunella cru—a vineyard owned exclusively by the Boroli family.
That distinction matters.
Unlike most celebrated Barolo vineyards, which are divided among multiple growers, Brunella is a monopole of Boroli. The vineyard surrounds Cascina Brunella on the western edge of the Villero hillside, and Boroli considers this wine the ultimate expression of Achille Boroli's vision for Barolo and the flagship of the estate.
The 2015 combines the power and structure associated with this site with the generosity and ripeness of an outstanding Barolo vintage. Aromas of red cherry, blood orange, rose, violet, licorice and spice lead into a beautifully structured palate framed by vibrant acidity and polished Nebbiolo tannins.
With only 8,410 bottles produced, this is a compelling mature Barolo for collectors and Nebbiolo lovers seeking a distinctive wine from one of Castiglione Falletto's lesser-known historic vineyards.
93 Points – James Suckling
James Suckling awarded the 2015 Boroli Barolo Brunella 93 points, highlighting its ripe red cherry and blood orange character alongside herbs and roses, followed by juicy, vibrant red fruit on the palate.
Falstaff – 92 Points
Brunella: A Historic Barolo Monopole
The story of Brunella is one of the most interesting aspects of this wine.
Boroli's research in the historical archives of Castiglione Falletto uncovered documentation of Collina Brunella dating to 1624, establishing a connection between this vineyard and the local community going back more than four centuries. Boroli notes that the name Brunella itself has identified this particular place for over 450 years.
Today, the Brunella cru is owned exclusively by Boroli.
Located at the western end of the Villero subzone in Castiglione Falletto, the vineyard wraps around its oval-shaped hill, with parcels enjoying southern, eastern and western exposures. The soils are predominantly calcareous clay with veins of sand and the fossil-rich Sant'Agata marls characteristic of this part of the Barolo appellation.
These conditions give Brunella its distinctive combination of power, aromatic breadth, elegance, structure and longevity.
A Relatively Rare Barolo
Despite the vineyard's long history, Brunella was not bottled independently under its own name until 2013, making the 2015 only the third vintage of this distinctive single-vineyard Barolo.
Production of the 2015 was extremely limited:
8,410 750ml bottles
330 magnums
34 double magnums
7 larger-format bottles
That scarcity adds another dimension to a Barolo already distinguished by its monopole vineyard origin.
The 2015 Vintage
The 2015 Barolo vintage delivered an appealing combination of ripeness, structure and freshness.
Heavy winter snowfall replenished water reserves in the vineyards before an early growing season. July was exceptionally hot and dry, with temperatures reaching approximately 40°C, but the accumulated soil moisture protected the vines from excessive drought stress. Cooler nights later in the summer helped preserve freshness as the Nebbiolo approached harvest.
Boroli describes the quality of its 2015 Nebbiolo as exceptional, with excellent ripeness, significant polyphenol accumulation and high-quality tannins.
James Suckling's broader assessment was similarly enthusiastic, calling 2015 the best Barolo vintage since 2010, and potentially even better, while emphasizing the vintage's combination of ripe fruit, freshness, vitality and refined tannins.
Tasting Notes
The 2015 Barolo Brunella displays a clear, luminous ruby-red color beginning to show the subtle garnet and orange reflections expected as fine Nebbiolo develops with age.
The nose is expressive and complex, opening with ripe red cherry, raspberry and blood orange, followed by rose petals, wild violet, licorice, dried herbs and black pepper. With time in the glass, the fruit becomes increasingly prominent while savory, floral and spicy notes emerge underneath.
On the palate, the wine is full, enveloping and beautifully structured, with juicy red fruit carried by lively acidity and fine but persistent tannins. Cherry and raspberry mingle with orange peel, licorice, dried flowers, herbs and exotic spice.
The finish is long and harmonious, balancing mature fruit with the freshness and tannic backbone that make great Nebbiolo so compelling.
This is a Barolo that combines power with elegance, ripeness with freshness, and immediate aromatic complexity with considerable aging potential.
Winemaking & Aging
The 2015 Brunella is 100% Nebbiolo.
Following careful grape selection and destemming, fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Brunella is distinguished by its traditional submerged-cap maceration, designed to achieve a slow and complete extraction from the Nebbiolo skins.
According to the vintage-specific technical sheet, the 2015 underwent approximately 15 days of maceration, followed by full malolactic fermentation. It was then aged for 24 months in large 25–50 hectoliter French oak barrels and approximately another 12 months in bottle before release.
This traditional large-cask approach allows Nebbiolo and the character of the Brunella vineyard to remain at the center of the wine rather than being dominated by oak.
The Boroli Family
The Boroli family's Piedmontese roots date to 1831, although its history began outside the wine business.
After generations of entrepreneurship in textiles and publishing, Silvano and Elena Boroli sought a return to the land in the 1990s. Their passion naturally led them to the Langhe and ultimately to Barolo. The family's wine estate was established in 1997.
Their son Achille Boroli assumed responsibility for the wine-growing and production operation in 2012 and began substantially changing the estate's approach. Production was reduced, winery technology was updated and greater emphasis was placed on low-intervention winemaking and expressing individual Barolo crus.
Brunella sits at the pinnacle of that philosophy.
Food Pairing
The combination of Nebbiolo's acidity, tannins and aromatic complexity makes the 2015 Brunella particularly suited to rich Northern Italian cuisine.
Pair with braised beef, osso buco, Brasato al Barolo, roasted lamb, wild boar, duck, porcini mushroom risotto, truffle pasta, tajarin with ragù or aged Parmigiano-Reggiano.
With a mature Barolo like the 2015, I would serve it at approximately 60–64°F (16–18°C) and give it some time in the glass or decanter before serving.
Wine Details
Producer: Boroli
Wine: Brunella
Vintage: 2015
Country: Italy
Region: Piedmont / Piemonte
Appellation: Barolo DOCG
Village: Castiglione Falletto
Vineyard: Brunella
Vineyard Status: Boroli Monopole
Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
Soil: Calcareous clay with sandy components / Sant'Agata fossil marls
Exposure: Primarily southern, with east- and west-facing parcels
Fermentation: Stainless steel
Maceration: Submerged cap
Oak Aging: 24 months in large French oak barrels
Bottle Aging: Approximately 12 months
Alcohol: 14%
First Brunella Vintage: 2013
2015 Production: 8,410 standard bottles
James Suckling: 93 Points
Falstaff: 92 Points
