Lucchetti Lacrima di Morro d'Alba Superiore Guardengo 2012
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Mario Lucchetti began in the 1980s with the first acres of Lacrima di Morro d’Alba, one of the local indigenous varietals in this rural area of Le Marche in the province of Ancona, not far from the town of Jesi. His passion focused on restoring the importance of the area’s native varietals. With new plantings in 2004, the estate’s total vineyard size expanded to 14 hectares and continues to grow today. In recent years, Mario’s son Paolo completed his degree in enology and is now working side by side with his father to carry the family tradition into the next decades. The focal point of the winery is their basic Lacrima bottling, but they also produce the “Guardengo” single-vineyard bottling as well as an Amarone style Lacrima made from partially dried grapes. Annual production remains well under 10,000 cases per year.
Lacrima di Morro d’Alba is an indigenous dark purple grape that exemplifies the Marche wine region. Historic records document that the grape has been harvested in the narrow region that today comprises the heart of Morro d’Alba since medieval times. On average, the grapes are harvested in the first ten days of September and vinified using the traditional method to make a very pleasant, ready-to-drink wine with the unmistakable bouquet of violets and wild strawberries. Fruity yet exotic and concentrated, this wine is delightful paired with traditional salami and Italian cold cuts, roasted meats and grilled sausages and is perfect for spring and fall, when the weather calls for less structured wines.
Beyond the usual suspects, there are hundreds of red grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines, while others are better suited for use as blending grapes. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles, offering much to be discovered by the curious wine lover. In particular, Portugal and Italy are known for having a multitude of unique varieties but they can really be found in any region.
Stretching along Italy’s eastern coast with neighbors, Umbria to its west and Abruzzo to its south, Marche is a region with a varying climate from north to south. Its coastal plains roll into hills that become the Apennine Mountains, which run the length of the country. The Marche's best red wines come from the grapes, Montepulciano and Sangiovese; the local Verdicchio makes refreshing, crisp and light whites.