MORRA GABRIELE Barbaresco 2021

The Morra Gabriele estate is the story of Stefano and Gabriele, 2 friends who decided to take over the vines belonging to the latter's grandfather. They farm 4.5 hectares, 3 of them in Barbaresco, for a modest production of 25,000 bottles. The vines are between 60 and 70 years old and grow on marly ground, on 2 highly reputed crus of Barbaresco (Montestefano and Ovello). Their motto: "Little, but good!". The business was born of a desire to tend vines and produce great wines, driven by their passion, their knowledge of wine and the practice of biodynamics. Pruning and work in the vineyard follow the lunar cycles. The only products used are sulphur in small doses and copper. Natural fertilisers made of legumes, grasses and mustard seeds enrich the soil and increase biodiversity by encouraging beneficial insects. The two friends' philosophy is to let nature do as much as possible. "Not doing" can be as powerful as "doing".

This Barbaresco comes from the two crus Ovello and Santo Stefano. The selected grapes are harvested by hand from old vines aged 60 years and more. Fermentation in stainless-steel tanks lasts 4 to 5 weeks. Ageing lasts 18 months in large oak casks and a further 6 months in bottle, without clarification or filtration. The colour is ruby. This wine reveals aromas of faded flowers, ripe raspberries, cherry stone, blueberries, tobacco, white pepper, humus and wild berries. The palate is elegant, the tannins delicate and the finish persistent and refined.

Ah Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, people of the Dolce Vita, but what difficulty in understanding its wine organization! The key to understanding the naming system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous country because each region has its own naming system. Italy can, however, give wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, as well as bottles filled with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless and characterless wines which are sold under their most useful and commercially reputable name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others...



But let's talk a little history, viticulture in Italy dates back to ancient times and it originated in Greece. The Etruscans would have planted vines and Greek immigrants would have improved and modified the grape varieties who subsequently called this country "Oenotria": the country of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life and certain regions already stood out for the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible testimony to their invasion.



Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic areas. The northern mountains experience a fairly harsh mountain climate. The “middle of the boot” plain is the domain of the continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the "southern part of the Italian boot" the Mediterranean climate reigns with very hot and very dry summers without forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In summary, Italy produces wines of great variety thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originate from their lands. It is a country just as complex as its wines which deserve to be explored!