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Ellena Giuseppe

Barolo del Comune di La Morra 2019

Barolo del Comune di La Morra 2019

Regular price $43.00
Regular price Sale price $43.00
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Varietal: Nebbiolo

Region: Piedmont,Langhe

Country: Italy

Volume: 750ml

This wine is the result of the assembly of five Nebbiolo vineyards of La Morra. The goal is to make a very elegant wine that represents the best of the La Morra vineyards. The fruit for the 2019 release again hails primarily from the younger vines off of the ‘Ascheri’ block (planted in 1980), with a bit of the oldest vines as well, on a southwest facing slope at 1,100 feet in elevation. The other two vineyards are the ‘Motturone’ and ‘Paradisio’ vineyards, of which the former is located southwest of Ascheri at 900 feet in elevation on a west facing slope that was initially planted in 1980 along with more recent vines in 2002. While this ‘entry level’ Barolo may appear to be simply that, there is so much more to this wine and it remains one of Barolo’s best values.

The grapes were hand-harvested in late-October with the bunches being destemmed and fermented without any additions in stainless steel vats. Frequent pigeage was employed to gain optimum extraction and the lots spent between 45 and 60 days on skins after which everything was pressed to a combination of used French oak barrique and Slavonian botti. After 24 months of aging with only a single racking during the two years in wood, the wine was racked to tank, blended and bottled without fining or filtration.

Wine Enthusiast | 94 points

Jancis Robinson | 17 points

Sip on this! It's good for you because...

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About Winemaker

Ellena Giuseppe

Agricola Ellena Giuseppe is located in the prized commune of La Morra. The property is 15 hectares with five under vine and eight hectares of hazelnuts. From 1966 through the mid-2000s the Ellenas sold fruit to local co-ops. That all changed when young Matteo took over the property with his father in 2009. Today, three generations work side by side weaving tradition and innovation. Matteo worked for both Elio Altare of La Morra and Giacoma Bologna of Rocchetta Tanaro, bringing a bit of style from both of these producers and fusing modernity with classic. In 2023, Matteo was named the President of the Cantina Comunale di la Morra, the official consortium of La Morra producers established in 1973. This is a big honor, as Matteo follows in the footsteps of Lorenzo Accomasso, a true Barolo legend.

The viticulture is quite traditional and was the first thing Matteo went to work on upon taking over the reins from his father. They have converted the vineyard to practicing organic viticulture, with manual weed management and practicing sexual confusion in the vineyard, curtailing savage moths from destroying the vineyard.  Low yields are obtained through multiple shoot thinnings, intensifying the fruit when necessary. In the cellar everything is vinified the way it should be.  The younger wines are given soft handling with higher temperature ferments and shorter time in oak, if it sees wood at all. The Baroli are macerated for 60+ days on the skins and held traditionally in botti with a bit of barrique. Primary and malolactic ferments are carried out with indigenous yeasts and the rackings are limited in order to lessen the use of sulfur dioxide.

If there was one story to tell about Ellena Giuseppe, it would be one of accessibility. Ellena Giuseppe represents some of the best value you can find in Barolo today, and the Giuseppes should be proud that their family legacy continues in Matteo’s very capable hands.

So..What's natural wine again?

  • No synthetic molecules in the vines
  • Plowing or other solutions to avoid chemical herbicides
  • Use of indigenous yeast
  • Handpicked grapes
  • Low to no filtering
  • Low to no sulfites
  • Winemaking that respects the grapes: no pumping or rough handling
    of the grapes
  • no micro-oxygenation

Not all of our wines are natural; some are simply organic or sustainable.
However, they're all delicious and good for you!