Bricco San Biagio

Bricco San Biagio sits within the commune of La Morra, one of the most celebrated townships in the Barolo DOCG. The vineyard occupies a hillside crest at elevations spanning 290 to 370 meters above sea level, with exposures tilted toward the south, south-southeast, and south-southwest. This orientation maximizes sunlight throughout the growing season, a critical advantage in a continental Alpine climate where adequate heat accumulation determines the quality of Nebbiolo ripening. Individual plots within the MGA vary considerably in size, from parcels as small as 1.29 hectares to holdings of around 4 hectares.

• Commune: La Morra, Barolo DOCG, Piedmont
• Elevation: 290 to 370 meters above sea level
• Aspect: south, south-southeast, south-southwest
• Plot sizes range from approximately 1.29 to 4 hectares

The soils at Bricco San Biagio reflect the geological complexity typical of La Morra, combining sandy deposits from the Arenarie di Diano formation with Marne di Sant'Agata Fossili formations in both sandy and typical expressions. Whitish calcareous marls and bluish tuffaceous marls complete the picture. The sandy component is particularly significant: lighter, more permeable soils tend to produce Barolo with a more delicate structure, contributing to the site's reputation for wines with finesse rather than sheer power. The continental Alpine climate delivers warm summers on these sun-drenched slopes, supporting full ripening of Nebbiolo.

• Sandy Arenarie di Diano formation soils predominate
• Marne di Sant'Agata Fossili marls add complexity
• Whitish calcareous and bluish tuffaceous marls also present
• Sandy texture supports elegant, lighter-structured Barolo

Few Barolo MGAs carry as rich a documented past as Bricco San Biagio. The name itself references Saint Blaise (San Biagio in Italian), and the Latin form 'Sanctus Blaxius' appears in the municipal cadastre as far back as 1477. More striking still is the existence of a Benedictine priory on this site, mentioned in records from as early as 1050 AD. Medieval sources refer to the site as 'ecclesia et castrum Sancti Blaxii,' meaning the church and castle of Saint Blaise, neither of which survives today. This long human presence on the hill reflects the historical recognition of its agricultural and spiritual value in the Langhe.

• Latin name 'Sanctus Blaxius' in municipal cadastre from 1477
• Benedictine San Biagio Priory documented from 1050 AD
• Medieval site included both a church and a castle
• Neither structure survives; the name lives on in the MGA designation

Barolo from Bricco San Biagio expresses the lighter, more aromatic side of La Morra's character. The sandy soils draw out floral notes of rose and violet alongside spice, producing wines described as essential and elegant rather than dense or tannic. Despite their relative lightness of body compared to some neighboring crus, these wines are built for long aging, a hallmark of quality Nebbiolo regardless of stylistic register. San Biagio/Roggero is the most historically connected producer to the site, while Luigino Grimaldi and Ciabot Berton also work parcels within the MGA.

• Style: lighter-bodied, floral, spice-driven, elegant
• Key aromas: rose, violet, spice
• Suitable for long aging despite relative approachability
• Producers: San Biagio/Roggero, Luigino Grimaldi, Ciabot Berton