A great Barolo from La Morra
Roberto Voerzio is among the most respected Barolo producers. His winery was founded in 1986 in La Morra, in the heart of the Langhe. Voerzio is known for extremely precise work in the vineyard, very low yields, and a minimalist approach in the cellar. The principle is simple: quality must come from the grape, the vineyard, and the vintage, not from technical corrections afterward.
The Barolo del Comune di La Morra 2021 is made from 100% Nebbiolo. The wine comes from the municipality of La Morra, a village known within Barolo for fragrant, elegant, and refined wines. While Barolo from villages like Serralunga d’Alba can often be more powerful and austere, La Morra typically offers more floral aromas, softer tannins, and a silky structure. The soil of La Morra consists mainly of blue-grey Sant’Agata Fossili marl from the Tortonian era, rich in clay, which contributes to the rounded, elegant style of the wines.
Aromas and Flavors
On the nose, this Barolo 2021 opens with ripe cherry, raspberry, redcurrant, rose petals, and violets. This is followed by deeper notes of forest floor, liquorice, dried herbs, orange peel, cedar wood, subtle spices, and a hint of truffle.
On the palate, the wine is concentrated but not heavy. The structure is rich and precise, with ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and a long finish. The tannins are clearly present, as is characteristic of young Barolo, but they are ripe, grainy, and refined. The combination of fruit, freshness, and structure makes this wine particularly suitable for aging, but with sufficient aeration, it is already impressive now.
Vineyards
The grapes for this Barolo come from four cru vineyards within the municipality of La Morra: Fossati, La Serra, Case Nere, and Boiolo. Each vineyard contributes something different to the final blend. Fossati often provides tension and minerality, La Serra is known for elegance and aromatic refinement, Case Nere brings depth and structure, while Boiolo adds roundness and ripe fruit. Together, these plots form a Barolo with more complexity than one would normally expect from a municipal wine.
Roberto Voerzio consistently achieves low yields year after year. The vine density ranges from 4,000 to 8,000 vines per hectare. These low yields are essential to Voerzio's style. Strict thinning is performed in July and August, ensuring that only the best bunches remain. This results in more concentrated, riper, and more aromatic grapes. The producer himself states that this method is intended to harvest perfectly healthy and ripe grapes, rich in sugar, aroma, and flavor.
The 2021 Vintage
2021 is an excellent year for Barolo. The vintage is characterized by ripe grapes, fresh acidity, powerful yet ripe tannins, and a classic structure. The growing season was warm and dry, but without extreme heatwaves. Cool nights helped to preserve freshness and aromatic precision in the Nebbiolo grapes.
The grapes were harvested manually in late September, early October, with a careful selection process. The combination of ripeness, freshness, and tannin structure makes 2021 a vintage with great aging potential. Superiore indicates an aging potential of up to 2046+ for this wine.
Winemaking Process
The vinification follows Roberto Voerzio's austere, precise style. The grapes are harvested manually. Alcoholic fermentation typically lasts 10 to 30 days and occurs spontaneously, without the addition of selected yeasts. After malolactic fermentation, the wine matures in wood.
The wine undergoes 24 months of aging in used barriques and large wooden barrels of 15 hectoliters, followed by 8 months in stainless steel and then a minimum of 8 months of bottle aging before release. This results in a style where wood does not dominate but supports the structure, complexity, and length of the Nebbiolo.
Aging and Cellaring Potential
This Barolo 2021 is still young. If opened young, it is advisable to open it several hours beforehand or carefully decant it. The wine has enough fruit and elegance to impress now, but its true complexity will develop further in the coming years.
Wine-Food Pairings
This Barolo pairs excellently with rich, savory dishes. Consider:
- Brasato al Barolo
- Braised beef
- Wild boar, venison, or deer
- Rack of lamb with rosemary
- Tajarin with ragù
- Risotto with mushrooms or truffle
- Aged Parmesan, Pecorino, or other aged cheeses
Serve the wine preferably at 18–20°C in a large Nebbiolo or Burgundy glass. For young bottles, aeration is highly recommended.
Brief Summary of Barolo Comune di La Morra - Roberto Voerzio
The Roberto Voerzio Barolo del Comune di La Morra DOCG 2021 is an exceptionally beautiful Barolo for lovers of finesse, depth, and aging potential. The wine comes from four cru vineyards in La Morra and combines ripe red fruit, roses, herbs, fresh acidity, and refined tannins. A great Nebbiolo from a top vintage, made by one of Barolo's most respected producers.
