Giulia Negri
New Arrivals
by Anthony Lynch
It’s hard to believe a decade has passed already since Giulia Negri began making wine at her family’s property in La Morra, high in the rolling hills of Piemonte. The youthful ambition she has shown from the start is now paired with a certain wisdom acquired from experience, and what was a promising young estate has become a guaranteed source of great Nebbiolo. A vigneronne with a refined palate who exercises just the right touch in her vines and cellar, Giulia is also lucky to work a special piece of land with potential to produce exceptional wines. Her parcels in the Serradenari cru represent the highest-elevation vineyards in all of Barolo, and they are entirely surrounded by forest—the only such vineyard land in the area. From this veritable island of Nebbiolo, Giulia has put Serradenari on the map and is realizing the exciting potential we saw from the start.
2022 Langhe Nebbiolo “Pian delle Mole”
Italy | Piedmont
It’s hard to think of many young talents whose star is rising faster than Giulia Negri’s in Piedmont. Not only is she charismatic but, more importantly, she makes incredibly graceful renditions of Nebbiolo. Graceful, however, does not mean soft, even in what she calls her “everyday drinking” bottling, this Langhe Nebbiolo. Giulia says, “The challenge with this wine is to respect the big personality of the Nebbiolo variety—long and full in the glass—but also to have it be very drinkable.” It is a challenge she meets with ease, providing us with a classy, delicious rosso that is ready to be drunk today but robust enough to possess at least five years of staying power. She has help from the terroir where this bottling originates: the vines sit at an elevation of 1,640 feet and face north, meaning they aren’t subject to too much sun. In the cellar, Giulia ages the wine in stainless steel and 500-liter tonneaux for fourteen months, longer than the élevages of most entry-level reds in other regions around the world and most wines in the Langhe Nebbiolo designation. Showcasing the variety’s classic notes of red fruit and roses, this top-notch Langhe Nebbiolo will pair exquisitely with many different kinds of dishes, but I recommend a funghi pizza.
2020 Barolo “La Tartufaia”
Italy | Piedmont
La Tartufaia is Giulia’s youngest-drinking Barolo, meaning it is ready to be enjoyed now, but you might also tuck a few bottles away to savor over the next few years. While it is open and expressive, with a great nose recalling red berries and rain on hot asphalt, it still benefits greatly from aeration, so don’t hesitate to pull the cork a few hours in advance. There is a bit of grip, as you might expect from a young Barolo, but also a purity of fruit that makes it hard to resist.
2020 Barolo “Serradenari”
Italy | Piedmont
While all of Giulia’s wines are from Serradenari and could be labeled as such, this one perhaps best epitomizes this culminating point in Barolo. Grown in sandy soils, it is her most high-toned wine, offering delicate florals and tart berry fruit with laser-like precision. Tightly coiled today, it is sure to unravel beautifully over the years, or with a few hours in a carafe. It is a racy and perfumed Barolo for those who appreciate wines of great finesse.