Winemaker Notes
The color is ruby red with violet veins, intense and dark. The nose combines the classic fruity notes of the grape variety with singular and captivating balsamic and menthol notes. In the mouth, the wine is ample, soft, highly enjoyable and storable, powerful and elegant at the same time. Very long and consistent finish, with precise aftertaste hints. It stands the test of time perfectly, as can be appreciated in 8-10 year old versions.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A juicy barbera showing plenty of smoke, black cherries, stones, cured meat and blue fruit. Medium- to full-bodied with sappy acidity and fruit. Tannins are firm and crunchy. Drink or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
Intense and concentrated, showcasing its old-vine pedigree from the Montelupo Albese vineyard. The wine reveals deep black cherry notes with a dense, rehydrated fruit character and complex spice layers. Sophisticated tannin structure frames a dark fruit core, while characteristic Barbera acidity provides perfect counterbalance. The 65-year-old vines express their depth and complexity in this powerful yet poised wine.
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Wine Spectator
Lush and expressive, this red exudes plum, fruitcake and blackberry flavors, with a deft touch of oak spice. Polished, yet lively acidity keeps this focused and fresh on the lightly chalky finish.
Friendly and approachable, Barbera produces wines in a wide range of styles, from youthful, fresh and fruity to serious, structured and age-worthy. Piedmont is the most famous source of Barbera; those from Asti and Alba garner the most praise. Barbera actually can adapt to many climates and enjoys success in some New World regions. Somm Secret—In the past it wasn’t common or even accepted to age Barbera in oak but today both styles—oaked and unoaked—abound and in fact most Piedmontese producers today produce both styles.
An historic village situated right in between the famous regions of Barolo and Barbaresco, Alba is also the name for the larger wine region surrounding the village.
In a sense, “Alba” is a catch-all phrase, and includes the declassified Nebbiolo wines made in Barolo and Barbaresco, as well as the Nebbiolo grown just outside of these regions’ borders. In fact, Nebbiolo d’Alba is a softer, less tannic and more fruit-forward wine ready to drink within just a couple years of bottling. It is a great place to start if you want to begin to understand the grape. Likewise, the even broader category of Langhe Nebbiolo offers approachable and value-driven options as well.
Barbera, planted alongside Nebbiolo in the surrounding hills, and referred to as Barbera d’Alba, takes on a more powerful and concentrated personality compared to its counterparts in Asti.
Dolcetto is ubiquitous here and, known as Dolcetto d'Alba, can be found casually served alongside antipasti on the tables of Alba’s cafes and wine bars.
Not surprisingly, given its location, Alba is recognized as one of Italy’s premiere culinary destinations and is the home of the fall truffle fair, which attracts visitors from worldwide every year.