2022 Giulia Negri Barolo "La Tartufaia", Piedmont, Italy
ABOUT THIS WINE
The La Tartufaia Barolo 2022 cuvée is made exclusively from Nebbiolo, the emblematic grape variety of Piedmont's great reds. The grapes come from La Morra, with origins shared between Serradenari and Brunate, two sectors capable of bringing elegance, depth, and complexity. The vines, located between 450 and 500 meters altitude, benefit from a west exposure that favors progressive ripening while preserving aromatic brightness. The Tortonian soils, predominantly clay-sandy, contribute to the finesse of the grain, tension, and floral dimension of the wine. The vinification relies on spontaneous fermentation in large wooden truncated cone containers, with a long maceration of about 40 days, in the traditional spirit of great Barolos. The 24-month aging in 25 hl Austrian oak casks allows the tannins to refine without marking the wine with excessive woodiness. In the sunny and demanding 2022 vintage in Piedmont, this approach preserves the balance, freshness, and drinkability of the Nebbiolo.
This Barolo can be appreciated after a few years in the cellar, but it will already be expressive with good aeration in a decanter.
ABOUT THIS PRODUCER
Earning the name "Barolo Girl" from her peers in La Morra, Giulia Negri has taken her family's 150-year tradition of grape growing and made the industry her own by morphing into a serious wine producer.
In the heart of the Serradenari cru of La Morra—the highest point in the Barolo zone, with vineyards culminating at 536 meters above sea level—Giulia passionately pursues her goal of crafting Barolo with a Burgundian sensibility. In fact, she even inherited small parcels of Chardonnay and Pinot Nero that her father planted on the estate’s cooler, north-facing sites, allowing her to pay tribute to the great wines of the Côte d’Or through the lens of Piemontese soil.
Upon Giulia’s arrival at the helm of the estate, the modest cellar was filled with small Burgundian barriques. After tasting all around the Langhe and learning from some of Barolo’s most distinguished growers, it quickly became clear that large casks were key to preserving Nebbiolo’s tension and mystical energy. With the goal of maximizing an honest expression of terroir, she has gradually replaced the smaller barrels with botti grandi. Her artisanal approach and espousal of traditional production methods extends to sustainable viticulture, eschewal of commercial yeasts and other additives, harvesting by hand, minimizing filtration, and long but gentle macerations in the cellar.