Luigi Giordano
Barbaresco, Piedmont
Not far from the centre of Barbaresco, among the hills that border the sinuous Tanaro river, the Luigi Giordano estate was founded by Giovanni Giordano in the 1930s. The Italian wine world was going through profound changes and challenges then. So, after having grown and sold grapes for most of the estate’s existence, Giovani’s son, Luigi decided to vinify the grapes himself from 1960. His decision to highlight the potential of the terroir and go down the path of quality winemaking paved the way for many other Barbaresco producers of his time.
Today, it’s the only fifth-generation winery owning vineyards planted in some of Barbaresco’s most prestigious crus, including Asili and Montestefano, and Cavanna. The Cavanna cru epitomises Luigi Giordano’s hands-off winemaking style and constitutes the only (a monopole) single-vineyard cru of its kind on the market.
Nowadays, the estate is run by Luigi’s daughters Silvia and Laura, assisted by Laura’s son, Matteo Rocca. It boasts over 7 hectares of vineyards, most dedicated to “denominazione di origine” status Barbaresco. Matteo cultivates traditional local varieties. You’ll find the noble Nebbiolo, its generous counterparts, Dolcetto and Barbera, along with Freisa and more recently Arneis, the only white and one of the most popular Piedmontese whites on the international wine scene.
Matteo’s ambition is guided by a deep respect for his grandfather’s elegant and loyally traditional style. Long maceration time on skins and maturation in large botti are the defining features of wines that gain in definition and detail every year, continuing to honour the impressive sites they hail from.
2022 Vino Rosso
The fruit comes from various parts of Luigi Giordano’s plots. The Vino Rosso is a blend of indigenous grapes.
Winemaking:
80% Nebbiolo, 20% Dolcetto co-fermeneted. Low maceration (4-5 days) to preserve the freshness of the wine. Easy to drink, summer red. Very chillable.
2021 Dolcetto d’Alba
The fruit comes from the subzone of Buschet (meaning “little woods”) situated at the heart of Barbaresco. The vines’ eastern exposure preserves the fruit’s aromatic precision and freshness. They were planted in 1971 on yellowish-gray, deep Sant’Agata fossil marls.
Winemaking:
The grapes were harvested in September, then destemmed and pressed gently to ensure the preservation of bright aromatics and the slow extraction of colour. They were naturally fermented at controlled temperature and pumped over daily. The wine spent 7 to 10 days on skins and went through malolactic conversion in stainless-steel tanks. The wine was aged in stainless-steel tanks for 6 months, then in cement tanks before bottling in March.
Tasting Notes:
It has a powerful bouquet of red plum, blueberry jam, and dried violets. It’s dry and medium-bodied, with soft tannins. The bright red fruit characters give way to a lively acidity and make up a fine structure.
2020 Langhe Freisa
The fruit comes from the subzone of Valle dei Salici (meaning “valley of willows”) situated at the heart of Barbaresco in the Cars vineyard.
Winemaking:
The fruit comes from the subzone of Valle dei Salici (meaning “valley of willows”) situated at the heart of Barbaresco in the Cars vineyard.
Tasting Notes:
Here’s a tantalising wine boasting an incredibly intense nose filled with notes of maraschino cherry, spiced plum, sun-dried tomato and dried herbs. The palate is as savoury and intense, with drying, rustic tannins peppered through the rhubarb and sour plum characters, the lot culminating in a long, chalky finish.
2021 Barbera d’Alba
This Barbera has become increasingly difficult to find. The fruit comes from the subzone of Buschet (meaning “little woods”) in the Cars vineyard situated at the heart of Barbaresco. Thanks to lower elevations and multiple exposures, this subzone has long been prized for the quality of its Barbera.
Winemaking:
The fruit was harvested mid-September to capture perfectly balanced acidity and ripe fruit characters. It was de-stemmed and fermented at controlled temperature with daily pump overs, then macerated for 8 to 10 days. The wine was aged for 3 to 4 months in 30-50 hL Slavonian oak, followed by 3 months in bottle.
Tasting Notes:
It has a brilliant ruby colour with hints of purple and a bouquet filled with black plum, red currant, and a touch of blackberry. The palate is dry and medium-bodied, with soft tannins combined with bright acidity lifting deep blueberry, and bright red berry flavours, and culminating in a long and crisp finish.
2021 Langhe Nebbiolo
Giordano 's Nebbiolo Langhe is produced with grapes from different vineyards (Carlinet, Buschet, Ronchi and Cavanna).
Winemaking:
The fruit was gently destemmed, and the juice was macerated on skins for 15 to 20 days with frequent pumping over to preserve fresh aromas and extract colour. It was naturally fermented in stainless steel tank. After malolactic conversion, the wine was aged in a combination of stainless steel and concrete tanks for 12 months.
Tasting Notes:
The nose offers intense and fragrant aromas of violet, wild strawberry and raspberry. The palate exudes Nebbiolo’s innate elegance with breadth and archetypal dusty tannins.
Red fruits, almond, red cherry, a smattering of dried herbs, pops on the nose, but feels so delicate. Light to medium-bodied, bright and lively, delicious, acidy is bang on and ‘mineral’ and the finish is clean and long. Beautiful wine. An absolute delight to drink. So highly recommended. 93 pts. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
2020 Barbaresco Cavanna
Cavanna is a historical cru located directly under the tower of Barbaresco. It’s the closest sub-area to its centre. Other prestigious producers the likes of Gaja, Moccagatta, and De Forville grow grapes for their finest Barbaresco there. The exposure goes from West to South-West and the soil is composed of Sant'Agata fossil marls and silt. The vineyard, planted between 1988 and 2006, is divided into 3 sections overlooking the Tanaro river, which creates the unique microclimatic conditions that make it their most prized vineyard: it was the first to be vinified as a single vineyard by Luigi in 1971 and, since then, they are the only ones to claim its name on the Luigi Giordano label.
Winemaking:
After gentle destemming, the fruit was macerated on skins for 15 to 20 days and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged for 18 to 24 months in large 30-50 hL Slavonian oak, followed by 6 months in bottle.
Tasting Notes:
The Cavanna cru epitomises Luigi Giordano’s purist winemaking style and constitutes the only single-vineyard cru of its kind on the market. Floral and red berry fruit meld with sweet spice and earthy characters. It has wild berry, refreshing dried mint notes and a gamey quality adding a rustic charm. It’s complete with dusty tannins and a lively acidity that linger.
Red fruit, almond, pretty florals and tea leaf, a little stony and spicy. Medium-bodied, fresh, red fruits with a tangerine flavour, fine dusty tannin, really nice and bright, with a gently peppery finish of excellent length. Lovely. A lot of energy. 93 pts. The Wine Front
Very floral with rose to the fore, slightly smoky and herbal notes of underbrush, forest floor and wild strawberry. There is volume on the palate, relaxing at first, savoury and toasty on the finish, with refreshing acidity and polished tannins, and the typical dusty finale of Nebbiolo. Good wine and good length, if a bit simple on the finish. 92 pts. Aldo Fiordelli, Decanter
2020 Barbaresco Asili
Asili is arguably the most important single vineyard in all Barbaresco. It’s celebrated by Bruno Giacosa and Ceretto as the source of fruit for their top wines. The vineyard, planted in 2000, is South-West facing.
Winemaking:
After gentle destemming, the fruit was macerated on skins for 15 to 20 days and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged for 18 to 24 months in large 30-50 hL Slavonian oak, followed by 6 months in bottle.
Tasting Notes:
The nose opens with wild raspberry, pomegranate, and bay leaf notes. The palate is firm with austere tannins framing the deep dark fruit flavours tightly. It has a long-lasting finish punctuated with tart acid spikes and earthy undertones.
Beautiful aromatics, almond friand, red fruits, floral. Medium-bodied, fresh, almost juicy red fruits, light dusty tannin offers gentle grip, and there’s a succulence to the wine that’s so charming. Bright acidity, a distinct ‘mineral’ quality to it, closing with a long subtle peppery tannin finish of excellent length. Beautiful wine. So fine. Touch and go for 96 points really. 95+ pts. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Extremely pale as Asili often is. Restrained, with cinnamon, pomegranate if not redcurrant and other light red fruits. Notes of smoky woodland, a balsamic touch and liquorice are soaked with this elegant redcurrant fruit. The acidity is delicate while the tannins almost silky and to the fore. Savoury and smoky on the finish, with great, elegant length. Amazing wine. From half-hectare in Asili, one of the most elegant MGAs for Barbaresco. The wine is aged for two years in large 30-hectolitre Slavonian oak. 94 pts. Aldo Fiordelli, Decanter
2020 Barbaresco Montestefano
Giordano owns the only parcel of Montestefano with a South exposition. It’s also the highest parcel.. It's also worth noting that Montestefano and Montefico are the two most important vineyards situated on the eastern flank of Barbaresco. The vineyard, planted in 1990, is South-facing.
Winemaking:
After gentle destemming, the fruit was macerated on skins for 15 to 20 days and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged for 18 to 24 months in large 30-50 hL Slavonian oak, followed by 12 months in bottle.
Tasting Notes:
It’s enticing and highly aromatic with a rich fruit core of black cherry and strawberry with notes of cinnamon, allspice, and earthy notes of truffle. The palate is firm with a fine tannin structure, fresh acidity, and a long-lasting taste.
Cherry, spice, a rocky/stony thing, slight liquorice in the mix. Medium, but nudging full bodied, a rich seam of flavour, all cherry, blood orange and brick dust, with a pleasing amount of dryness and grip, a bit more tension in tannin, bricks and stones on the finish, with some orange peel. Excellent wine. 95 pts. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
2016 Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva 1.5L Magnum
Giordano owns the only parcel of Montestefano with a South exposition. It’s also the highest parcel.. It's also worth noting that Montestefano and Montefico are the two most important vineyards situated on the eastern flank of Barbaresco. The vineyard, planted in 1990, is South- facing. The Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva is only produced during the very best years.
Winemaking:
After gentle destemming, the fruit was macerated on skins for 15 to 20 days and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged for 48 months in large 30-50 hL Slavonian oak.
Tasting Notes:
Here’s a tantalising wine boasting an incredibly intense nose filled with notes of maraschino cherry, spiced plum, sun-dried tomato and dried herbs. The palate is as savoury and intense, with drying, rustic tannins peppered through the rhubarb and sour plum characters, the lot culminating in a long, chalky finish.