Barolo Annunziata Riserva

General information

• Growing location: La Morra - M.G.A. Annunziata
• Vineyard position: South-East, North-East, South-West; 236 - 245 m a.s.l. (774 - 803 ft)
• Soil: Clayey loam rich in iron and manganese, balanced with sand, silt, and clay; the clay content increases with depth, ensuring excellent water retention.
• Training system: Archetto variation of the Guyot system
• Planting density: 4,000 plants/ha
• Harvest date: 19 October 2019

Vintage and vinification

2019 was a classically styled year in the Langhe, though not without its quirks. A long, cool winter delayed the vegetative cycle, while April brought abundant rainfall that replenished the soils - a blessing later in the hot summer months. The growing season remained slightly behind schedule, but stable conditions from June onward favoured even ripening. A heatwave in July was tempered by refreshing storms, and despite a hail episode in early September, the grapes reached full maturity in excellent condition. Yields were slightly lower, but concentration and balance were outstanding.

After harvest, the grapes from the Annunziata cru - a south-facing vineyard nestled among La Morra's undulating hills - were destemmed and pressed. Fermentation occurred spontaneously in concrete tanks at 22 - 28 °C over roughly two weeks, followed by malolactic fermentation in oak. The wine then rested for three years in large Slavonian oak casks and continued its slow evolution in bottle within Borgogno's historic cellars beneath the village of Barolo.