# Barbaresco Gallina (2016)

- **Producer:** Ugo Lequio
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Nebbiolo
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €45
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, raspberry, violet, liquorice, black pepper, coffee, prune, leather

## About this wine

Ugo Lequio founded his artisanal estate in Neive in 1981, committing to classic, low-intervention Nebbiolo production. The wine is sourced from the prestigious Gallina MGA (Cru) in Neive, featuring south- and southwest-facing slopes with Tortonian soils composed of St. Agatha calcareous marls mixed with sand. The vines for this cuvée were planted between 1951 and 1971, contributing deep complexity and site expression.

## Interesting facts

- Sourced from historic old vines in Neive's Gallina Cru planted as early as 1951.
- Aged in traditional 25-hectoliter Slavonian oak casks to preserve single-vineyard purity.
- Highly exclusive production yielding only 3,800 to 6,600 bottles per vintage.

## Food pairing

The firm tannic structure and high acidity of classic Barbaresco demand foods with significant richness, protein, and fat to soften the tannins. Earthy dishes featuring mushrooms or truffles mirror Nebbiolo's intricate aroma profile.

## Wine making process

Grapes are hand-selected from old vines yielding low outputs of 40–45 hl/ha. Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel at around 25°C, with 15 to 18 days of skin maceration, regular pump-overs, and a délestage midway. The wine matures for 20 to 24 months in traditional 25-hectoliter Slavonian oak casks, followed by a minimum of 6 months bottle aging before release.