2018 Ellena Giuseppe Barolo 'Ascheri' MAGNUM

The top-end Ellena Giuseppe 2018 Barolo Ascheri shows dark plum and cherry with dark rose and toasted nut. The wine offers an easy, open-knit personality with crisp acidity on the close. Compared to the La Morra village expression of Barolo also made by this estate, this single-vineyard expression is fully aged in barrique for 18 months, and this gives the wine some added textural intensity. Otherwise, much of the fruit sourcing is shared, with harvested clusters coming from a site with calcareous clay soils at 350 meters in elevation. Proprietor Matteo Ellena says, "Our Barolo Ascheri comes from a crossover point between Verduno and La Morra. You get the elegance of La Morra and the spice character of Verduno." 93 points. The Wine Advocate.