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While many of the new projects in Barolo have deep roots going way back through the history of the region, many don’t. A good chunk of the most exciting new projects are from complete newcomers to the region who bring fresh eyes and energy to a land that can sometimes be slow to change. Some come because, somewhere along the line, they have fallen in love with the Langhe and just want to be a part of it.

That is LaLu. ‘La’ is Lara Rochietti and ‘Lu’ is Luisa Sala, two city-raised girls who met at university in Piemonte and ‘fell in love with wine and married a dream.’ Too young and too passionate to realize their dream was both impractical and unrealistic, they traveled, respectively, to South Africa and Argentina to investigate the wine scene in the Southern Hemisphere. Both studied in Burgundy before they made their bold move to the countryside of La Morra and apprenticed themselves to several local (and very supportive) growers and winemakers to better formulate their own plan.

And sure enough, by dint of sheer passion and perseverance, one of Barolo’s most exciting new projects has taken shape. Thanks to an introduction by another of La Morra’s young Turks, Nicola Oberto of Trediberri, they are now the proud owners of just over three hectares in Monforte (in Bussia and Le Coste di Monforte MGA) and La Morra (in the Roncaglie MGA)which they farm—organically, of course. Sticking their first Barbera and Nebbiolo vines into the ground in 2015, this dynamic duo worked, watched and waited four long years for their inaugural harvest in 2019. Their first wines have truly taken the local wine world by storm.

While there is a Barbera and a single cask sitting in the cellar that recently became the 2021 Barolo Le Coste di Monforte, it’s the Langhe Nebbiolo that was the duo’s first foray into the market. To call it a sensation would be an understatement, as the Northern European Barolo geek contingent who were able to travel to the Langhe during COVID discovered LaLu, blowing up social media and beating a path to meet the affable, hard-working duo (and their equally affable but far less hard-working dog). Quickly LaLu has become the buzz label for those interested in discovering the future of wine in the Barolo region.

Created half and half from younger vines in Rocaglie and Bussia-Brovi, this 100% Nebbiolo is aged in concrete tanks rather than wood to preserve its gorgeous fruit and pristine and very lifted aromatics. Zingy and fresh, it fits neither in the ‘grapey-juicy’ school of easy-drinking Langhe Nebbs nor in the ‘Baby Barolo’ mold of more serious wines. It’s right in the middle, and really savory and delicious too! The aromatics are a primer on the attributes of Nebbiolo, and the wine’s texture is well-nigh perfect right now: fresh and fruity on the front end, and crunchy and bright at the back. Makes us hungry just thinking about it…