Bruna Grimaldi: Value and Quality in Barolo 3-12-24

On Sale Now!
 
We’ve talked about the glory days of Barolo. Not the region, but back when you could find great Barolos for under $50. Well, it seems one estate has not allowed inflation to impact their pricing or quality: Bruna Grimaldi.
 
It should come as no surprise to any long-time subscribers to our newsletter to hear us say that Grimaldi craft classic, well-structured and delicious wines that outperform their modest price tags. The estate dates back to the 1990s, when Bruna (along with her husband, Franco Fiorino) began bottling her own wine. This decision came after decades selling off the exceptional fruit and bulk wine before eventually selling small amounts locally. As the word got out and international interest poured in, the wines have only improved.
 
The three Barolos that we’re featuring today are the Camilla, Bricco Ambroggio and Badarina. The wines tend to be fairly solid, built primarily for the cellar, but with an early opening, you can find that they’re enjoyable in the near term. All are distinctive and delicious. The Camilla is the only one blended from multiple sites, mostly from the ridgelines to the north of La Morra. Limestone found throughout the area lends to softer tannins and a more approachable style; perfect for drinking now. Bricco Abroggio is an outlier of a vineyard, and the wine is equally special. The site is predominantly clay and marl, so you’d expected a tannic powerhouse, yet it is light on its feet with great freshness and plenty of cellaring potential. Finally, the Badarina is the flagship and pride of the estate. Bruna’s mother was born there and the family lived in a small brick house on top of the ridge. This is Serralunga; the dominant soil is ancient sandstone, and the wine is built for the long haul. Structured and tight in its youth, it develops extraordinary aromatics with age.
 
Overall, Bruna Grimaldi’s quality/price ratio is simply unequaled in Barolo. These wines are beautifully expressive, polished wines that combine the cleanliness and rich, round flavors of a modern producer with a more traditional sensibility when it comes to oak usage. These are incredibly well-made wines and not one of them costs more than $50/750ml, a remarkable feat that’s aided by our strong relationship with their Oregon importer. So don’t buy just one. Stock up, especially during our three-day sale. You’ll want to see for yourself how well these develop over the next decade and beyond.
 
5% off any 6-11 in-stock bottles of Bruna Grimaldi wine
10% off any 12 or more in-stock bottles of Bruna Grimaldi wine
 

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We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Sale ends Friday, March 15th at 9 am Pacific.
 
In Stock and On Sale Now from Bruna Grimaldi:
 
Bruna Grimaldi “Camilla”, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points
“Notes of spiced cherries, red licorice, nutmeg and hazelnuts. It’s tight and chewy with a full body and velvety texture. It’s steady and lengthy and need a few years to soften. Try after 2026.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 90 points “This wine represents an appellation-wide blend of fruit from Raviole and Borzone (in Grinzane Cavour), Roere di Santa Maria (in La Morra), San Lorenzo di Verduno (in Verduno), Bricco Ambrogio (in Roddi) and Badarina (in Serralunga d’Alba). However, in 2019, a hailstorm destroyed most of the crop from Raviole, so that cru does not feature here. The Bruna Grimaldi 2019 Barolo Camilla opens to medium-dark intensity. The bouquet is a bit closed, even reduced, but you do get black cherry, cassis and red licorice. This concludes with dry tannins. 20,000 bottles were released.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $50
 
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $45, that’s $42.75 at 5% off and $40.50 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93+ points
“($90) This wine has already evolved to show some tar and savory aromas. The 2015 Barolo Badarina offers pretty color saturation with linear and fresh lines of plum, black fruit, dark spice and tilled earth. The wine delivers much of the heft and power promised by this Badarina cru in Serralunga d’Alba. If you’re looking for a Barolo vintage to pair with a rich meat like liver or game, this could be the one. This is Bruna Grimaldi’s flagship Barolo, as her mother was born in Badarina and this site has always had special meaning to her family. Some 8,000 bottles were produced.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points
“With fruit from Serralunga d’Alba, the Bruna Grimaldi 2018 Barolo Badarina opens nicely and completely, relative to its young age, within a few hours of popping the cork. The character of the wine is hearty and firm, although there is also a silkiness or smoothness that is especially associated with this vintage. You get some of those vaguely metallic aromas of rusty nail or iron ore that come with the Serralunga d’Alba territory. There is also plenty of dark fruit, licorice and wild rose. Fruit from the special Vigna Regnola site is blended into this wine in 2018 because no Riserva was produced. This is a release of 6,000 bottles.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $66
 
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 33 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points
“Note of dark spices, chocolate and bark with red and dark berry character. Full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and firm texture. It’s tight and muscular with juicy and vivid red fruit underneath, before a flavorful finish. Needs some time in the bottle. Try from 2026.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Barolo Badarina sees fruit from Serralunga d’Alba. The wine shows medium-rich concentration with aromas of red berry fruit and dried cherry. At the back are subtle notes of rusty nail, black licorice and crushed rose. Bruna Grimaldi and her family make wine in their winery in Grinzane Cavour but farm various parcels across the appellation. The Badarina often comes across as the boldest and most structured wine in the portfolio. Some 6,500 bottles were released.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $67
 
Bruna Grimaldi Bricco Ambrogio, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $41.90, that’s $39.81 at 5% off and $37.71 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points
“From a vineyard site in Roddi with classic Sant’Agata marl soils and fossils, the Bruna Grimaldi 2018 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio shows pretty harmony and balance, with a considerably softer character that finishes with very smooth and silky tannins. The fruit is compact and fresh with wild cherry and cassis. That more tart flavor profile cedes to floral notes and some earthy tones as well in this production of 4,500 bottles.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $48
 
Bruna Grimaldi Bricco Ambrogio, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off and $40.05 at 10% off, 34 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points
“The Bruna Grimaldi 2019 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio (with 4,500 bottles made) boasts a very vibrant and lively garnet color that is slightly on the darker side of your standard Nebbiolo. This cru site in Roddi tends to make accessible Barolos, and you could say the same for this edition. The wild card, however, is the excellent 2019 vintage, which gives this wine more abundant fruit density and structure. Generally speaking, you get a bigger bolder wine this year.”
James Suckling 92 points “This shows notes of ripe cherries and cranberries with red flowers, citrus peel and savory herb undertones. It’s firm and structured with a full body and taut tannin structure. Hints of nut shell and nutmeg in the aftertaste. Better from 2026.”
 
You guessed it: this is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $60
 
Shop the sale on our webstore now!

 
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
 
Anne-Sophie Dubois
 
5% off any 6-11 in-stock bottles of Anne-Sophie Dubois wine
10% off any 12 or more in-stock bottles of Anne-Sophie Dubois wine

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Anne-Sophie Dubois sale ends Thursday, March 14th at 9 am Pacific.