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Brezza Barolo Sarmassa 2016

$7899

Sarmassa is a powerhouse cru in the town of Barolo, and it gives Brezza's most muscular wine. This historic family domaine works traditionally, and from Sarmassa's sun-soaked, structured site they draw a Barolo with real density and grip. The 2016 vintage was one of Piedmont's finest in recent memory, a cool, balanced year that produced classically proportioned wines built for the long haul. This is Nebbiolo for the cellar: give it time and it rewards you. A serious bottle from an under-the-radar estate.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

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Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


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Antonio Galloni

87 points

"The 2016 Barolo Sarmassa comes across as a bit light and compact in this vintage. Fruity and yet also searingly tannic and lacking in depth and balance, the 2016 looks like a wine that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Dried fruit, spice and floral notes are the hallmarks of a wine that is on a fast aging curve. I would not push my luck on aging." —Antonio Galloni

Robert Parker

91 points

"This wine is closed with a traditional cork, and sadly, my sample showed some very light cork taint. I attempted to taste past the TCA but felt it correct to put a question mark next to my score. That said, the cork taint was very distant, and there is value in writing this review. (Interestingly, and somewhat ironically, this is the same estate that champions glass corks for Barolo). The 2016 Barolo Sarmassa shows depth and a straight or linear quality with high-toned fruit and some pretty mineral dustings on the close. This release was 6,342 bottles (750 milliliters) and 103 magnums." —Monica Larner

Jancis Robinson

17 points

"Lustrous pale ruby. Really exciting and vibrant on the palate. Verging on thrilling! There's the muscle of fine Barolo here and a really dry finish. Notably livelier than the Cannubi 2016 – which is also good. This tightrope of ripe Nebbiolo fruit with lively acidity – and not that much tannin – is a joy to taste. Long."

Kerin O'Keefe

95 points

"Pressed rose, camphor, star anise and dark berry aromas slowly take shape on this full-bodied red. Firmly structured, the palate delivers ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco set against a backbone of noble tannins and vibrant acidity. It still needs several years to fully integrate. Drink after 2026." —Kerin O'Keefe

More about Brezza

While we are fortunate that the fashion for big & bold, flashy & opulent has seen its day in Barolo, that doesn't mean that every traditionally made Barolo manages to achieve the harmony and elegance that we seek—but Brezza delivers.

The wines from this address have always been good, but they've become truly fine in recent years. Enzo is the driving force behind the huge step up in quality that this old estate has taken in the past decade or so, as well as their conversion to organic viticulture. He makes unfailingly honest and delicate wines of purpose.

Brezza's wines are all from hand-harvested estate fruit and are fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. The Baroli are aged in 3,000L untoasted Slavonian oak botti. None of the wines are fined or filtered. The results are classic beauties of red fruit and charm.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Nebbiolo

  • Vintage

    2016

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Organic

  • Style

    Earthy

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Medium Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Braised short ribs, wild boar ragu, venison, aged cheeses, truffle risotto, rich beef stews.

Tasting Profile

Dark cherry, tar, leather and rose. Full-bodied and powerful, with firm tannins, bright acidity and a long, structured finish.

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