Giulia Negri Barolo Marassio 2021

Marassio occupies the top of the Serradenari cru, on the heights of La Morra, in the Barolo appellation. It is the second-highest plot on Giulia Negri's estate, at 536 metres, on limestone and clay soils. This cool site, one of the highest in the Langhe, benefits from cool nights and slow ripening that preserve the acidity and aromatic finesse of Nebbiolo, even in hot years.

The Nebbiolo grapes are harvested by hand and then carefully sorted in the cellar. Fermentation is spontaneous, with native yeasts, and skin maceration extends to some forty days. The wine is then aged for more than two years in large oak vessels, then bottled unfiltered, to retain all the purity and depth of this high-altitude Barolo.

This wine reveals notes of rose petals, cherry, redcurrant, raspberry, cinnamon, orange zest, menthol and liquorice. The bouquet, of aristocratic elegance, mingles small red fruits, flowers and spices, with a touch of forest floor. The palate, lively and precise, reveals its complexity with restraint, carried by still-tight but distinguished tannins, through to a long, fresh finish.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful, hedonistic country, the land of la dolce vita, but how difficult it is to understand its wine industry! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous nation, as each region has its own appellation system. Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, bottles brimming with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most commercially useful and prestigious name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco, and many others... But let's talk a little history. Viticulture in Italy dates back to antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, subsequently calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and certain regions already distinguished themselves by the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquest. Today, Italy is the world's largest wine producer, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a rather harsh mountain climate. The plains of the "central boot" are characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the southern part of the Italian boot, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with very hot and dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a wide variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originated in its own lands. It is a country as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!