Luigi Baudana Barolo Serralunga 2020

Region and Vineyards

Serralunga d'Alba, on the eastern ridge of the Barolo DOCG, is home to some of the appellation's most formidable wines. Luigi Baudana draws fruit from Baudana, Cerretta and a slice of Costabella, parcels that span the crest where Tortonian marls cede to Helvetian sandstone. This patchwork of elevations and exposures breeds striking tension between perfume and grip.

Baudana and Costabella cling to west-facing slopes whose ancient marls confer fragrant red fruit and supple mid-palate weight. Cerretta's south-east aspect, anchored by a red clay spine, contributes mineral austerity and length. The combination yields Nebbiolo that is structured yet mineral-driven, its brightness safeguarded by breezes that funnel down the narrow gullies of Serralunga, moderating daytime heat and extending hang-time.

Winemaking

Grapes were hand-sorted twice before fermenting with indigenous yeasts in tall vertical tini. Gentle punch-downs and cap-irrigation sustained an extended maceration of about 50 days, extracting flavour without coarse phenolics. Malolactic conversion occurred spontaneously in spring, preserving delicate aromatics.

Ageing lasted 24 months in large, seasoned Slavonian casks (15-25 hL) with a handful of neutral barrels for nuance. The wine was assembled unfiltered and bottled on 13 July 2023. This minimalist regimen foregrounds terroir, allowing the graceful tannins and nervy acidity that typify Serralunga to shine unadorned.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Bright garnet core shading to brick at the rim.
• Aroma: Rose petal, wild strawberry, blood orange zest and fennel seed over subtle leather and ferrous earth.
• Palate: Juicy yet vertical; layers of raspberry liqueur, pomegranate, licorice and white pepper glide on tightly knit, iron-tinged tannins before a long, savoury finish.

Did you know?

Two days after a violent hailstorm of 2008, Luigi and Fiorina hand-cleaned clusters berry by berry so damaged fruit would not taint the harvest—an act of devotion that epitomises the estate's family stewardship and ongoing organic protocols under the Vajra family.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Porcini-risotto - mushroom umami draws out the wine's earthy depth while its acidity cuts the creaminess.
• Braised veal cheeks - gelatinous texture meets the wine's firm tannins, and orange-zest notes echo subtle citrus lift.
• Tajarin al tartufo - silky Piemontese pasta and white truffle mirror Nebbiolo's floral perfume and savoury undertow.
• Aged Parmigiano Reggiano - crystalline salt crystals underscore the Barolo's mineral snap and sweet red-fruit core.

History of Luigi Baudana

The estate of Luigi Baudana is deeply rooted in the village of Serralunga d'Alba, one of Barolo's most storied communes. For decades, Luigi and Fiorina Baudana cultivated their vines with extraordinary devotion, guided by intuition and deep connection to the land. Until the early 2000s, the domaine remained a well-kept secret known primarily among Barolo connoisseurs for its soulful, uncompromising Nebbiolos from two grand crus: Baudana and Cerretta.

In 2009, the Baudana family entrusted the future of their estate to the Vajra family, already acclaimed for their work in Vergne near Barolo village. Importantly, the transition maintained the estate's identity and independence while elevating its viticulture, winemaking precision, and international profile. Today, Luigi Baudana operates as a distinct label under the Vajra umbrella, combining traditional Serralunga intensity with the Vajras' refined, detail-driven approach.

The winery, which shares its name with its historic MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva), is a rare example of a small Barolo estate that has maintained its soul while benefiting from modern organic practices and global recognition.

Region and Vineyards

Luigi Baudana's holdings are entirely within the commune of Serralunga d'Alba, a terroir renowned for its power, longevity, and limestone-dominated soils. The estate farms some of the finest parcels within the Baudana and Cerretta crus, each offering a unique expression of Serralunga's geological history.

The Baudana vineyard, situated on the western edge of the commune, features an unusual combination of Lequio sandstone and Tortonian marl, lending both structure and lift to the wines. In contrast, Cerretta is composed of pure Lequio formation, producing wines of greater austerity, stony minerality, and slow-developing depth.

All farming is conducted under certified organic and sustainable practices, with a strong focus on biodiversity, soil vitality, and ecological balance. Altitudes range between 380 and 450 meters, contributing to slower ripening and excellent acid retention, essential for the aging potential of Nebbiolo.

Wine Range of Luigi Baudana

The estate is focused and artisanal, producing a limited but precise range of wines. The flagship Barolos — Barolo Baudana and Barolo Cerretta — are vinified and aged separately to reflect their singular terroirs. They are known for their elegance, clarity of site expression, and remarkable aging capacity.

Additionally, Luigi Baudana produces Dragon Langhe Bianco, a high-altitude white blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Nascetta, and Rhine Riesling. First created in the 1990s by Luigi and Fiorina, this wine has become a signature expression of aromatic finesse and Alpine minerality.

Did you know?

Luigi Baudana is one of the very few producers in Barolo who shares his surname with an official MGA (cru). The origin of the Baudana name in the village predates the wine classification system, making it unclear whether the vineyard was named after the family — or vice versa. This poetic ambiguity adds to the mystique surrounding one of Serralunga's most singular domaines.