Negri, Giulia
It always interesting to see what the next generation of Barolistas are up to, and at Giulia Negri one is in for surprises. The first being that Giulia herself is quite young but already quite accomplished. In truth her family has been in the Barolo Business for quite some time, owning the Serradenari estate. Other surprises include her traditionalist take on wine even though she is in the heart of modernist country: La Morra. This traditionalist take does not prevent Giulia from changing things up as her trials with both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay can attest to. All in all these are wines worthy of taking note. They strive for elegance and delicacy, though not to the extent of Alberto Burzi’s, and are produced in a generally non-interventionist and natural style.
2016 playing with a 72 day Barolo which is pretty fabulous out of botte
Vineyard planted in 2001 though Serradenari was planted in 2001 and they bought the adjacent piece to the higher part and planted in 2006, had been vineyard, then more recently hazelnuts
2014 Giulia Negri Chardonnay 12.5%
14 months of barrique, both Chard and Pinot were very affected by hail in14
Fairly smoky on the nose, shows a lot of terroir signature with rich clay, aromatics. Light, elegant style, a little more new world fruit than Burgundy,, showing refreshing acids and fresher fruit in the mouth, a little bit of perhaps yeasty heaviness from the sur lees ageing Certainly well made and pleasant, if a little short. 85pts
2015 Giulia Negri Chardonnay bottled last week 12.5%
SS then aged in barrique , 70% went through malo,
Lemon and lemon oil dominate the nose which also shows some chalk and riverstone quality along with a fresh oak top note. This is very pretty and perfumed in a tart fruit register that translates to the palate with its quince and citrus flavors. Bright, juicy and open on the palate, there is a little dusty tannin and some salinity. Long, moderately complex and youthful, this has some ageing potential and I would not be surprised to see this performing at a higher level after another 2-4 years in the bottle. 87pts
2013 Giulia Negri Pinot Noir Tartufaia 13.5%
A touch of sweet fruit and wood compete on the nose, which is interesting but a bit unformed yet. A bit candied, elegant, and rather hightoned in the mouth,which shows both a bit of a wood and a nice savory herbal aspect of Pinot. Very juicy, easy and pleasant with good length in almost a Beaujolais style. 87pts
2012 Giulia Negri Barolo LaTutarfaia 14.5%
Showing aromas of sweet black cherry fruit, a bit leafy, and showing some nuttiness, hazelnuts, light soil tones, and still a hint of wood on the nose. With a touch of sweetness on entry, releived by bright acids on the midpalate, this is relatively well balanced with tannins that are a touch edgy and come to overpower the delicate fruit on the palate and lend the mouth a slightly too dry texture. Quite front loaded, but still pleasant. 86pts
2012 Giulia Negri Barolo Serradenari 14.5%
More floral and underbrush on the nose with small, red, forest fruits that are playing a supporting role. Offering up a decidedly more complete mouthfeel than the Tartufaia Barolo, this is long, lithe, and elegant with fine tannins, and juicy wild strawberry fruit, showing the nuance of a nice forest floor core in the mouth. Very solid showing, easy to drink and showing an incipient truffle note on the finish. 88pts
2013 Giulia Negri Barolo Serradenari 14%
Much more aromatically intense with pronounced soil driven aromas underpinning briary and smoky/stemmy aromas with subtle red fruit framing notes. Bigger and broader in the mouth with lots of fine, slightly dark cherry fruit. Layered and complex in the mouth already, with firm yet well managed tannins and vibrant acids keeping this fresh and lively. Endowed with a core of very pure, detailed, red fruit with a savory finish. Tannins are long with a touch of clay spice on the finale. 91pts
2011 Giulia Negri Renoir
60% Pinot Noir 40% Nebbiolo
This is rousingly complex on the nse with lots of cherry fruit and smoke aromas layered over soil not rich with Langhe terroir signature. On entry there is plenty of soil notes and a hint of eucalyptus and tender Pinot fruit that fades in the mouth, yielding to the cherry fruit of Nebbiolo. Really a lovely wine, sort of serious, sort of not, begging to be served with a slight chill all summer long. Elegant and wonderfully hightoned and fresh. 88pts
2013 Giulia Negri Serradenari Barolo La Vetta 14%
Central part of the vineyard, richer soil with access to underground water, harvested earlier than the surrounding plots
Sweet tobacco,, hot stones, and dark cherry fruit offer lovely complexity on the nose. A little chewy and broad in the mouth, this offers a mouthful of wine that remains bright and transparent. Fine grained, limestone tannins support the midpalate lending this a touch of austerity as aromas of mint and wild herbs accent the fruit in the mouth. Quite structured, fine and long with wonderful persistence of raspberry fruit on the finish. 92pts
2013 Giulia Negri Serradenari Langhe Nebbiolo 13.5%
Very fragrant, nuanced on the nose with burnished wild cherry, earthy herb notes, lots of mint and floral aromas. Big on entry, then turning fine and tense on the mid palate with gentle tannins and a fine mineral edge. This retains a sense of delicacy even if it is made in a bit of an important Nebbiolo style. Offering good length, a really nice level of complexity and firmness in an accessible wine. 89pts
2016 playing with a 72 day Barolo which is pretty fabulous out of botte
Vineyard planted in 2001 though Serradenari was planted in 2001 and they bought the adjacent piece to the higher part and planted in 2006, had been vineyard, then more recently hazelnuts
2014 Giulia Negri Chardonnay 12.5%
14 months of barrique, both Chard and Pinot were very affected by hail in14
Fairly smoky on the nose, shows a lot of terroir signature with rich clay, aromatics. Light, elegant style, a little more new world fruit than Burgundy,, showing refreshing acids and fresher fruit in the mouth, a little bit of perhaps yeasty heaviness from the sur lees ageing Certainly well made and pleasant, if a little short. 85pts
2015 Giulia Negri Chardonnay bottled last week 12.5%
SS then aged in barrique , 70% went through malo,
Lemon and lemon oil dominate the nose which also shows some chalk and riverstone quality along with a fresh oak top note. This is very pretty and perfumed in a tart fruit register that translates to the palate with its quince and citrus flavors. Bright, juicy and open on the palate, there is a little dusty tannin and some salinity. Long, moderately complex and youthful, this has some ageing potential and I would not be surprised to see this performing at a higher level after another 2-4 years in the bottle. 87pts
2013 Giulia Negri Pinot Noir Tartufaia 13.5%
A touch of sweet fruit and wood compete on the nose, which is interesting but a bit unformed yet. A bit candied, elegant, and rather hightoned in the mouth,which shows both a bit of a wood and a nice savory herbal aspect of Pinot. Very juicy, easy and pleasant with good length in almost a Beaujolais style. 87pts
2012 Giulia Negri Barolo LaTutarfaia 14.5%
Showing aromas of sweet black cherry fruit, a bit leafy, and showing some nuttiness, hazelnuts, light soil tones, and still a hint of wood on the nose. With a touch of sweetness on entry, releived by bright acids on the midpalate, this is relatively well balanced with tannins that are a touch edgy and come to overpower the delicate fruit on the palate and lend the mouth a slightly too dry texture. Quite front loaded, but still pleasant. 86pts
2012 Giulia Negri Barolo Serradenari 14.5%
More floral and underbrush on the nose with small, red, forest fruits that are playing a supporting role. Offering up a decidedly more complete mouthfeel than the Tartufaia Barolo, this is long, lithe, and elegant with fine tannins, and juicy wild strawberry fruit, showing the nuance of a nice forest floor core in the mouth. Very solid showing, easy to drink and showing an incipient truffle note on the finish. 88pts
2013 Giulia Negri Barolo Serradenari 14%
Much more aromatically intense with pronounced soil driven aromas underpinning briary and smoky/stemmy aromas with subtle red fruit framing notes. Bigger and broader in the mouth with lots of fine, slightly dark cherry fruit. Layered and complex in the mouth already, with firm yet well managed tannins and vibrant acids keeping this fresh and lively. Endowed with a core of very pure, detailed, red fruit with a savory finish. Tannins are long with a touch of clay spice on the finale. 91pts
2011 Giulia Negri Renoir
60% Pinot Noir 40% Nebbiolo
This is rousingly complex on the nse with lots of cherry fruit and smoke aromas layered over soil not rich with Langhe terroir signature. On entry there is plenty of soil notes and a hint of eucalyptus and tender Pinot fruit that fades in the mouth, yielding to the cherry fruit of Nebbiolo. Really a lovely wine, sort of serious, sort of not, begging to be served with a slight chill all summer long. Elegant and wonderfully hightoned and fresh. 88pts
2013 Giulia Negri Serradenari Barolo La Vetta 14%
Central part of the vineyard, richer soil with access to underground water, harvested earlier than the surrounding plots
Sweet tobacco,, hot stones, and dark cherry fruit offer lovely complexity on the nose. A little chewy and broad in the mouth, this offers a mouthful of wine that remains bright and transparent. Fine grained, limestone tannins support the midpalate lending this a touch of austerity as aromas of mint and wild herbs accent the fruit in the mouth. Quite structured, fine and long with wonderful persistence of raspberry fruit on the finish. 92pts
2013 Giulia Negri Serradenari Langhe Nebbiolo 13.5%
Very fragrant, nuanced on the nose with burnished wild cherry, earthy herb notes, lots of mint and floral aromas. Big on entry, then turning fine and tense on the mid palate with gentle tannins and a fine mineral edge. This retains a sense of delicacy even if it is made in a bit of an important Nebbiolo style. Offering good length, a really nice level of complexity and firmness in an accessible wine. 89pts