"The 2019 is superb, that much is pretty clear." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

After many decades working as the right-hand man to one of the most famous names in fine wine anywhere in the world, Guido Rivella's own estate has emerged into the spotlight as a Piemonte producer worth seeking out.

Having worked as Angelo Gaja's winemaker for over 40 years, there are few better equipped to make world-class Nebbiolo, whether that is within the Barbaresco DOCG or as a more humble Langhe Nebbiolo - designations his former employer famously fluctuated between. He set up his own Azienda in 2010 before retiring from Gaja in 2014 to focus on this label full time with his children Enrico and Silvia. The pedigree of his experience was immediately apparent, especially in the quality of his single cru wines.

In terms of winemaking, their focus is all about maintaining the health of the vines and celebrating the terroir of the vineyards. This means they try to take as delicate a touch in the winery as possible. As Enrico, Guido's son, puts it so eloquently, 'ninety-nine percent of the work is done in the vineyards. Our job in the cellar is not to f*%k it up'. The estate produces stylish, forward wines that are approachable in their youth.

The first vintage of this single-vineyard wine from Guido and Silvia, Marcorino is a superb old-vine site, just above the Bruno Giacosa winery on the edge of the town of Neive. Their tiny 0.42 hectares of vines have a South West exposure and an interesting soil blend. While it is mainly clay and limestone, there is sand and light marl which give this Nebbiolo a sense of softness and lightness. 

Vinous's Antonio Galloni was clearly impressed with this debut vintage. Awarding it 94 points, he declared this 2019 Marcorino to be a "superb" release.

"The 2019 Barbaresco Marcorino is another new wine in this range from Rivella. Dark, sensual and ample in feel, the 2019 offers up an exciting mélange of dark fruit intermingled with scents of licorice, camphor, tobacco and menthol that add nuance. Give the potent tannins time to soften. The 2019 is superb, that much is pretty clear."

Drink 2025-2037

94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com October 2022

"It’s great to see some new wines in this range from Guido Rivella and his daughter, Silvia, I found both the Marcorino (from a site just above the Bruno Giacosa winery) and Faset quite impressive..."
Antonio Galloni, Vinous