2017
Ugo Lequio
Ugo Lequio Barbaresco Gallina
They say great wines come from great vineyards, and the Gallina vineyard in Barbaresco is as good as it gets for Nebbiolo. It is a "cru," or one of the top three of four vineyards, with vines planted 50-70 years ago. Made in the old style, Ugo Lequio Barbaresco Gallina has less oak and more tension. A truly incredible wine now or in the decades to come.
VINEYARD
Designation
Grape Varieties
Type
Soil
Vineyard
WINERY
Fermentation
Aging
Alcohol
AT HOME
Serving Temperature
Cellaring
100% Nebbiolo
Dry, red wine
Sandstone, sand, high proportion of clay.
Produced with Nebbiolo grapes from the “cru” Gallina located in the historic town of Neive. Elevation is 170-250 meters above sea level. Older vines planted in 1953, 1963 and 1971. Yield: 40 to 45 hl / hectare.
Fermentation takes pIace in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. 15 – 18 days of maceration.
20 months in 2500 liter oak casks, then a further 6 months aging in bottle.
15%
64°F (17.5°C)
Up to 30 years
Appearance:
Medium garnet with orange rim
Taste:
Good structure, but not too much oak. Fruit is not too ripe. Persistent and enduring over time.
Nose:
Dark red roses, raspberry, white pepper, cherry blossom, potting soil, tobacco, persimmon, leather, mint
Pairing:
Great with stews, braised red meat or game and seasoned cheese. If matured it is the perfect wine for meditation.
Why We Love This Wine
The Gallina vineyard is one of the best crus in Barbaresco, made famous by Bruno Giacosa in the 1970's and 1980's (Giacosa Gallina can sell for $250 a bottle!). Today, Ugo Lequio is synonymous with the Gallina vineyard. His Barbaresco comes from the best part of the Gallina (hen vineyard), named Cascina Nuova (new farmhouse). Older vines were planted in 1953, 1963 and 1971, and are famous for their elegance.
In the winery, Ugo Lequio ages the wine in 25 hectoliter Slavonian oak barrels for 20 months, much longer than is required. This is the old winemaking style. The resulting wines have less oak and more purity. Ugo's wines are always given high marks and praise by the press, but somehow he has always remained under the radar. Even in the torrid 2015 vintage, the wines somehow remained fresh.
2016 was considered a near perfect year in terms of weather and this vintage will be one to cellar. The beautiful aromas are all there; violet, cinnamon, mint, persimmon, rose petals, ripe cherry, and licorice. We have tasted Barbaresco Gallina this wine against other 2016 at the same price point and it is consistently our favorite. It is just very classic in nature—the perfect balance of tannin, acid, and oak. It is lacking nothing and has nothing in excess. It reminds us of why Barbaresco is one of the greatest wines in the world.
$59/ Bottle
Barbaresco
Gallina
Critics Review
"Ugo Lequio 2017 Gallina (Barbaresco). Aromas of wild berry, fragrant blue flower and new leather waft from the enticingnose. Boasting structure and finesse, the full bodied, enveloping pallet features juicy Morello Cherry, crushed raspberry and baking spice framed in taut velvety tannins. Drink 2022 to 2029.”
— Kerin O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast
About the Winery
Ugo Lequio founded his winery in 1981 and lived across the street from the Gallina vineyard. He always dreamed of making wine from those grapes one day. A perfect southern exposure at 885 feet altitude with a mix of clay and sandstone soils. The problem was that the grapes were already contracted to the prestigious Bruno Giacosa winery. Over the years, Ugo was eventually able to buy some Barbera, then some Nebbiolo fruit, and finally Nebbiolo from the best part of the vineyard called Cascina Nuova.
Images Courtesy of Ugo Lequio