10/16/25 - 

Masanobu Fukuoka was a farming philosopher known for his concept of ‘do nothing’ farming, a system that trusts the equilibrium of nature. Marina Marcarino (pictured above) of Punset in Barbaresco is an adopter of these methods which include no plowing, no chemical fertilizers, and no weeding. She also embraces organic and biodynamic practices, believing in the energy and vibrancy of wines made in a hands off style. She is a Fourth Generation farmer in Neive, Barbaresco who came into the world of farming after leaving behind a potential career in engineering.

In mid September I did an all Italian NARF (New Arrivals, Returning Favorites) and one of the bottles was the Punset Barbaresco Basarin Riserva 2016. It sold out super quickly, so this time I shored up a few more cases. This is the official end of stock for the 2016, with the fantastic 2017 vintage waiting in the wings. This Barbaresco is from a single vineyard called 'Basarin' in Neive. Basarin is characterized by its focus and balance, rather than power. Marina talks a lot about the softness and approachability of Barbaresco compared to Barolo and the 2016 vintage is singing right now, showcasing the elegance of Barbaresco in a near perfect growing season. Marina ages the wine for 3 years in Slavonian oak and another 3 years in bottle.
 
Another 2016 Barbaresco on offer today is her very special Campo Quadro Riserva. This is a monopole for Marina within the larger San Cristoforo MGA. Campo Quadro is the highest elevation parcel at 475m, brushing up against the appellation’s elevation limit. This wine sees later harvesting and an extra year of aging compared to the Basarin, creating a wine with more depth and layers revealed with time. At just around ten years of age, Campo Quadro 2016 is drinking beautifully now, with incredible aging potential.

There are so many remarkable Langhe Nebbiolo, especially around this time of year, but Marcarino’s 2023 is a personal favorite. Think crunchy berries, rose petals, and lifted red fruit- so playful and easy to love. Her Langhe Arneis 2023 is phenomenal as well, with half of the grapes seeing 10 days of skin contact, which Marina says emphasizes the typical characteristics of white flowers and white fruit in Arneis. Lastly, her Barbera d'Alba 2023 has already been on the shelf at Chambers for a few months with great feedback. I adore this wine and snag one for myself quite often! Click 'View Wines' below for even more technical information and tasting notes.
 
-Marisa Licandro

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