94 Points | Cerequio Cru | 100% Nebbiolo | Excellent 2004 Vintage | Only 6,232 Bottles Produced
Boroli 2004 Barolo Cerequio DOCG – Piedmont, Italy
94 Points – Wine Enthusiast
91 Points – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Mature Barolo from One of the Langhe's Great Vineyards
The Boroli 2004 Barolo Cerequio DOCG is a beautifully mature, single-vineyard Barolo from the celebrated Cerequio cru, one of the historic vineyard sites of the Langhe and a terroir long associated with some of Barolo's most elegant and age-worthy expressions of Nebbiolo.
Produced from 100% Nebbiolo, the 2004 Cerequio combines the power and structure of Barolo with the refinement for which this vineyard is particularly renowned.
More than two decades after harvest, this is an opportunity to experience great Nebbiolo with the additional complexity that only extended bottle age can provide.
And there isn't much of it.
Boroli's own vintage archive records production of just 6,232 standard bottles of the 2004 Cerequio, along with 150 magnums and 20 larger-format bottles.
The Cerequio Cru
Cerequio is one of the great names in Barolo.
Located in the commune of Barolo, the vineyard enjoys favorable exposure, excellent ventilation and a distinctive microclimate traditionally nicknamed the "Riviera delle Langhe." Boroli describes Cerequio as a site particularly capable of producing wines of elegance and refinement, with the acidity and vibrant structure necessary for long aging.
The vineyard sits at approximately 300–350 meters above sea level, depending on the parcel, with clay-limestone soils, sandy components and Sant'Agata marl. Boroli's detailed soil analysis gives the composition as approximately 25% sand, 50% silt and 25% clay.
These conditions help explain the signature of Cerequio: Barolo with substantial structure, but also perfume, balance, freshness and finesse.
Indeed, Cerequio's reputation is not new. Boroli notes that as far back as the 19th century, agronomist Lorenzo Fantini identified Cerequio as a particularly distinguished area for Barolo production.
An Excellent 2004 Vintage
The 2004 vintage provided excellent conditions for late-ripening Nebbiolo.
A cold, snowy winter was followed by generous spring rainfall that replenished the vineyards' water reserves. Summer brought warm but generally moderate conditions without extreme heat. Beginning in September, sunny and dry weather continued into October, allowing Nebbiolo to reach excellent maturity.
Boroli harvested its 2004 Cerequio between October 6 and October 15 and officially rates the vintage quality as Excellent.
The resulting wine has the concentration and structure of a serious Barolo while retaining the balance and aromatic refinement associated with Cerequio.
Tasting Notes
Now with more than 20 years of bottle evolution, the 2004 Boroli Cerequio offers the kind of complexity that makes mature Barolo so compelling.
The color has evolved from bright ruby toward classic garnet. Aromatically, the wine opens with ripe cherry, plum and blackberry, followed by dried rose, violet and increasingly complex notes of fine spice, licorice, hazelnut, tobacco, earth and subtle balsamic character.
The palate is broad and layered, with mature red fruit supported by Barolo's characteristic acidity and finely evolved tannins. Cherry and plum give way to savory spice, dried flowers, licorice and earthy mineral nuances.
There is both power and elegance here—the defining tension of great Cerequio—with a persistent finish that continues to reveal savory and tertiary complexity as the wine opens.
Boroli describes the 2004 as having a broad, characterful bouquet of ripe fruit and fine spices, embodying the elegance and refinement associated with the vineyard.
94 Points – Wine Enthusiast
Wine Enthusiast awarded the 2004 Boroli Cerequio 94 points, placing it in the publication's "Superb" category.
The review particularly admired the wine's combination of the exceptional 2004 vintage and Cerequio terroir, highlighting aromas of vanilla, spice, hazelnut and blackberry, together with impressive power and persistence.
91 Points – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Wine Advocate praised the wine's detail, nuance, energy and depth, noting an expansive fruit core, integrated tannins and careful use of French oak. Most importantly, the review described it as a beautiful expression of Cerequio, one of Barolo's top vineyard sites.
Winemaking
Cerequio is harvested entirely by hand, with Boroli dividing its vineyards into individual micro-parcels according to grape maturity.
These parcels are harvested and vinified separately. Fermentation takes place in stainless-steel tanks, followed by an extended submerged-cap maceration of up to approximately 30 days.
The separate lots then receive at least 18 months of wood aging before being blended. After bottling, the wine receives additional cellar aging before release.
This extended, meticulous process is designed to capture both the power of Nebbiolo and Cerequio's characteristic elegance.
Wine Details
Producer: Boroli
Wine: Cerequio
Vintage: 2004
Appellation: Barolo DOCG
Vineyard: Cerequio
Commune: Barolo
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
Alcohol: 14%
Vineyard Elevation: Approximately 300–350 meters
Soils: Clay-limestone, sand and Sant'Agata marl
Soil Composition: 25% sand, 50% silt, 25% clay
Harvest: October 6–15, 2004
Vintage Quality: Excellent
Production: Only 6,232 standard bottles
Wine Enthusiast: 94 Points
Wine Advocate: 91 Points
About Boroli
The Boroli family's entrepreneurial history in Piedmont stretches back to 1831, first in textiles and later in publishing.
In the 1990s, Silvano and Elena Boroli decided to pursue their passion for the Langhe and wine, creating a new chapter in the family's history. Their son Achille Boroli joined the business in 2000 and eventually assumed responsibility for its wine-growing and winemaking operations.
At the heart of Boroli's philosophy is a simple principle: great Barolo begins with great vineyards.
That philosophy led the family to focus increasingly on individual crus, with Cerequio becoming one of the estate's most important single-vineyard expressions.
Boroli's first pure Cerequio bottling was produced in 2003, making this 2004 only the second vintage of Boroli Barolo Cerequio—an additional detail I think is particularly interesting for collectors.
Food Pairing
At this stage of maturity, I would pair the 2004 Cerequio with dishes that complement rather than overwhelm its evolved complexity:
Tajarin with white or black truffles, porcini mushroom risotto, braised beef, osso buco, roasted lamb, duck, wild boar ragù, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano or Castelmagno.
For a mature bottle like this, I would stand it upright several hours before opening to allow sediment to settle. Decant carefully and taste as you go—older Barolo can evolve beautifully in the glass without necessarily benefiting from prolonged aeration.
Why You'll Love It
This wine brings together a celebrated Barolo cru, an excellent vintage, more than two decades of bottle age, limited production and outstanding critical acclaim.
For a collector or serious Italian wine drinker, there's another fascinating point:
2004 was only the second vintage of Boroli's single-vineyard Cerequio.
That gives the bottle both vinous and historical interest.
