Ugo Lequio - Barbaresco Gallina DOCG 2018

Aromas of ripe cherry, forest floor, rose, licorice, and spices. Full-bodied and powerful on the palate, with ripe red fruit, refined tannins, fresh acidity, and a long, spicy finish. An elegant Barbaresco with classic structure.

Great with tajarin, mushrooms and truffle, but also with veal, poultry and refined game dishes. Serve at 18 °C.

Ugo Lequio is a story unto himself. In 1981, he started his own small, almost ‘garage’-style winery, without owning a single vine. Born and raised in Neive as the youngest son of a winemaking family, he knew the area and the best vineyards like no one else. His winery is located right next to the famous Gallina hill, where the historic Cascina Nuova—now owned by the Marcarino family—is situated.

Because the family vineyards did not belong to him, Ugo chose a different path: he set out in search of the best grapes. He started with Barbera from the Marcarino family and built a relationship of trust with them over the years. Eventually, he managed to convince them to sell him a portion of their precious Nebbiolo as well. These grapes previously went to the legendary winemaker Bruno Giacosa.

Ugo does almost everything himself and personally oversees vineyard management. His grape selection is extremely meticulous, and his winemaking is distinctly traditional. Furthermore, he deliberately gives his wines more time than the regulations require. Aging takes place in large wooden botti, followed by further rest in his wine cellar in Neive.

That combination of patience, precision, and craftsmanship results in wines with depth, structure, and a distinctly unique character. Ugo is a true artisan who prioritizes quality over production and only releases his wines when he feels they are ready.

Kerin O’Keefe of Wine Enthusiast described his Arneis as “a fantastic expression of Arneis” from one of the best, yet still remarkably little-known, producers in the Langhe.

Top MGA Gallina in Neive, a historic vineyard with a southern exposure and old Nebbiolo vines. The vineyard is renowned for elegant, structured, and long-lived Barbarescos.

Traditionally vinified in stainless steel tanks with 15–18 days of maceration on the skins. The wine is then aged for 20 months in large 25 hl Slavonian oak barrels, followed by 6 months of bottle aging.

The 2018 combines ripe red fruit with fresh acidity and firm, refined tannins. It has developed beautifully by now, but still has room for further complexity. Will keep well until approximately 2031–2035.