Lacrima di Morro d’Alba: A Complicated Name, A Wonderful Wine
Looking to impress a friend who claims to know all about Italian wine? The Vino Vino Situation recommends Lacrima di Morro d'Alba from Marche
I know, Lacrima di Morro d’Alba what? It’s a rather complicated and long name, but believe me, you will remember this wine once you taste it. And when you serve it, you will impress your friends by spelling out this obscure Italian name!
In fact, the composition of the terrain, the sea breeze, and the native grapes of Marche are as good as those of other more famous Italian wine regions. Among those native grapes, Lacrima di Morro d’Alba really stands out.
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By the way, don’t get mixed up with Alba, Piedmont, the hometown of wonderful wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco, and Brachetto! Morro d’Alba is a town in the province of Ancona, Marche.
Reportedly, Emperor Frederik Barbarossa took shelter here during the siege of Ancona in 1167. As it used to happen, the inhabitants were forced to give their best products to the emperor, including their local wines made with Lacrima grapes.
Lacrima means “tear” in Italian. The name comes from the fact that the skin of the grape breaks when it’s ripe, releasing the juice of the pulp as if it was tears. The wine made with these grapes has a unique aroma.
Lacrima di Morro d’Alba by Luigi Giusti
Luigi Giusti owns 12 hectares of vineyards of Lacrima di Morro d’Alba. Taking advantage of Lacrima’s versatility, they makes different types of wine with it: still, bubbly, rosé, and straw wine. Lacrima can really adapt to several winemaking techniques. Perhaps only a prolonged passage in barrel could ruin its distinctive features.
The Lacrima di Morro d’Alba by Luigi Giusti is vinified in steel and refined in large and small barrels for a few months only. The color is deep ruby red with characteristic purple shades. It has a distinctive aroma of flowers such as roses and violets, small berries, with a delicate hint of spices.
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On the tongue it is smooth and fresh, with a balanced tannin presence. It almost reminds of a young wine, but with more complexity.
Lacrima di Morro d’Alba goes well with ciauscolo, a typical salami of Marche so soft and moist that it can be spread on bread. I would also recommend some aged cheese (but not too aged).
This wine is so recognizable that once I tried it at a blind tasting, and I was able to recognize it immediately. Again, the only problem is the name… But, once you taste Lacrima, I am sure you will recognize it and remember it too!
Enjoy your wine!
Wine maker: Luigi Giusti
Name: Lacrima di Morro d’Alba DOC
Region: Marche
Type: Still red wine
Grapes: About $15
Price: Lacrima di Morro d’Alba 100%
Working in wineries across Italy, I get to see how much passion goes into each bottle. With the Vino Vino Situation, every week I recommend a great Italian wine. These reviews are unsponsored and unsolicited. Salute!
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