Brand New from Le Marche

by Anthony Lynch by Anthony Lynch

2018 Lacrima di Morro d’Alba

Azienda Santa Barbara

Discount Eligible $24.00

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Azienda Santa Barbara Italy | Le Marche | Lacrima di Morro d’Alba

Discount Eligible $24.00

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If ever a wine could be described as a beacon of pure joy, it might just be the rare Lacrima di Morro d’Alba from Le Marche, near central Italy’s Adriatic coast. This dry red’s ambrosial perfume of lavender, roses, and tooth-staining wild berries is completely intoxicating, while its lithe, juicy freshness makes imbibing feel like a divine privilege.
Made from the Lacrima grape—presumably named for the teardrop-like shape of its berries—in the gentle hills around the town of Morro d’Alba, near Ancona, this Marche specialty nearly went extinct before being revived by a handful of vignerons in the 1980s. Lucky for us, they salvaged this gem of a variety, which reaches an aromatic expression that, next to any other red wine, feels like stepping into technicolor for the first time: you’ll gaze in awe at brilliant flowers and succulent fruits bursting with sweet nectar; you may even feel something mystical we usually don’t experience in wine.
The wizard behind this is Stefano Antonucci, also the author of our crisp bargain Verdicchio. Grown where the Adriatic meets the Apennines, his Lacrima is equally befitting for delicacies of the sea or land. But served chilled, on a sunny spring day, this luminous red will refresh and enliven regardless of what surrounds it.

Technical Information

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Wine Type:	red
Vintage:	2018
Bottle Size:	750mL
Blend:	Lacrima
Appellation:	Lacrima di Morro d’Alba
Country:	Italy
Region:	Le Marche
Producer:	Azienda Santa Barbara
Vineyard:	5 ha, planted 1980-1990
Soil:	Clay
Farming:	Sustainable
Alcohol:	13%

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About The Producer

Azienda Santa Barbara

As with every region in Italy, the Marche is a world all unto itself. This is the home of the Verdicchio grape, whose name comes from the root verde, describing both the greenish hue of the grapes and the resulting wine. The Castelli di Jesi DOC is one of the largest of the zones in which Verdicchio is grown.. It is capable of making vibrantly fresh and crisp white wines. The Riserva bottlings can age gracefully. From Azienda Santa Barbara we have a wine in the former camp. Owner Stefano Antonucci has a track record of creating benchmark wines from the Marche and we are excited to bring this Verdicchio as our first import from this little-known region of Italy.

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Learn more about Azienda Santa Barbara

About The Region

Le Marche

map of Le Marche

Le Marche’s reputation as a producer of fine wine is relatively recent, as the region is very much off the beaten path for tourists and tasters alike. And yet, early Etrsucan and Roman civilizations grew grapes here, a tradition that persists and continues to gain momentum in this undulating land where the Apennines descend to the Adriatic.

In between the warm coastline and the cool, rugged mountainous border with Umbria lies a landscape of calcareous rolling hills that provide ideal conditions for viticulture. The zingy, green-tinged, citrus- and pine-scented Verdicchio is king here, producing delightfully crisp whites that perfectly complement the fresh fish and seafood stews of the Adriatic, in addition to the pork-based dishes that are staples inland. Around the towns of Jesi and Matelica, the grape takes on an additional dimension and is even capable of significant aging under the right conditions.

While our involvement in the region is recent, the two producers we represent demonstrate that Le Marche is capable of producing whites of serious interest, which often come at great value.

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Sampler Includes:

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2024 Rosso Piceno • Colleleva $17
A chewy blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese, this is Italy’s answer to your everyday Côtes-du-Rhône. The bold dark fruit and hint of spice make it the ideal partner to red sauce pastas and meatballs.

2024 Lacrima di Morro d’Alba • Colleleva $25
The Lacrima grape is a rare specialty of Le Marche: a fragrant red reminiscent of wild roses and juicy berries. Savor it chilled with pizza, Indian curries, or a BLT.

Spumante Dosaggio Zero Col Fondo “Numerosei” • La Marca di San Michele $43
This citrusy sparkler has playful hallmarks of both a pet-nat and metodo classico. It is unmistakably fresh, fun, and chalky here, harkening to the vineyards in which it’s grown, on millions-of-years-old limestone slopes that used to be under the sea.

2024 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore “Capovolto” • La Marca di San Michele $29
This example, from sustainably grown Verdicchio high in the hills, showcases a hint of the variety’s herbaceous side, then reveals a sensuous creamy texture underscored by an energizing flinty note. Verdicchio’s greatest quality is perhaps how well it works at table, enhancing anything from linguine with clams to sliced prosciutto to grilled fish and spring greens.

2021 Marche Rosso “Bastian Contrario” • La Marca di San Michele $27
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