Vine Path Blog 1/20: Negro Lorenzo, Champion of Roero

Lorenzo during harvest.

We’re proud to be offering up the wines of Negro Lorenzo in this month’s collection.  These wines have always impressed us ever since we were first introduced to them by our import friends James and Nick Mucci.  When they first started their business in Massachusetts a few years ago we were struck by how amazing and obscure their finds were.  Nick had spent the subsequent years scouring Italy up and down for exciting new wines to bring back home with him and the effort proved deliciously satisfying for us all.  With this month’s collection we’re celebrating great wines from a great unknown producer along with the fine people who’ve made a life spreading the good word of great wine.  

Negro Lorenzo is situated in the Monteu Roero, a lesser known viticultural area neighboring Barolo and Barbaresco in the Langhe.  Unlike the famous terroir of its neighbors, Roero is a jagged valley that at one ancient time was flooded with ocean water. As the ocean receeded it left behind marine sediment in its wake, sediment full and rich with marine fossils.  Walking the vineyards of Negro Lorenzo you can scoop up a handful of soil and you’ll find piles of fossilized shells and other primitive ocean life. It’s truly remarkable and advantageous for it’s primary grapes, Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Arneis.  

In the face of 100% tariffs on wine and other specialty products from the EU, now obnoxiously made into collateral for the Large Civil Aircraft Dispute, we don’t yet know how it will affect people like the Mucci brothers or producers like Negro Lorenzo.  Certainly, things will have to change drastically but the results may be cataclysmic for specialty importers like the Mucci’s who’s entire business is built on bringing us soon to be affected Italian goods. As you enjoy these wines, and I’m sure that you will, consider leaving a comment by January 13th at the Federal Register, here, and let them know that it’s hurt small importers and stores like ours who’ve make a living providing our customers with the best of the best at a fair price.

Roero Arneis DOCG 2018

Arneis is among the finest white wines in the Langhe, and one of its most distinctive.  Rich in texture, fuller on the palate, and totally ageable, there’s nothing quite like it in the wine world.  Negro Lorenzo’s Arneis is fresh and vibrant with notes of white flowers, chamomile, pear, and apricot, and is released a little later than most other Arneis in the region, a decision we appreciate since time is on Arneis’ side.  Enjoy with any shellfish, seafood, or bird your heart desires.

La Nanda Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2013

Barbera is always playing second fiddle to Nebbiolo in the Langhe, which may be a mistake since it is perhaps equally noble.  This wine comes from some of the best plots for Barbera in Alba and is aged large neutral oak aging for a considerable time. 2013 is the current vintage on this wine.  It’s rich in the mouth, powerful and full, dense and chewy, high in acid, and lower in tannin, just like a Barbera should be. Have this one with big, gamey meat dishes or charcuterie.

Prachiosso Roero 2015

Prachiosso was introduced as a bridge between Negro Lorenzo’s Langhe Nebbiolo and their Riserva wine S. Francesco.  The wine gets its name from the vineyard site at the edge of their property where the grapes are drawn from. Though this wine is not technically a Riserva wine, it’s still ready to age out and while it’s not as powerful as the S. Francesco it’s still got structure and style. Like most great Nebbiolo, there are few limits when it comes to proper food pairings but my favorite choices have always involved game birds.

S. Francesco Roero Riserva 2013

This is the mack daddy of the Negro Lorenzo estate. Aged in large neutral oak and held for a considerable time in bottle (2013 is the current vintage), this wine can compete with most of the great Nebbiolo in the region.  Open this next to a bottle of Cru Barolo and try to say it’s a lesser wine! We’re constantly impressed by the value that this wine delivers and we’re so excited to share it with you. This one’s quite big so make it count with a thick, fatty steak.

A picturesque view of the Negro Lorenzo winery and estate.