Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Barbera d'Alba Superiore is a precise and balanced wine that applies a very orderly approach to a grape that can often show an untamed or wild side. In fact, this wine flaunts a level of pedigree that does not go unnoticed to those in the know about Barbera. This expression has it all under control, and the wine comports itself in a soothing manner that will pair well with hearty winter dishes. Fire up the grill now, or stick it in the cave and take your chances.
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Wine Spectator
This is round and juicy, its cherry and blackberry fruit melding seamlessly with the bracing acidity. Flashes of iron and hot stone add depth as this stretches out, ending on a peppery accent.
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Wine & Spirits
Giuseppe Vaira harvests fruit for this wine from the family’s oldest barbera vines, some dating back to 1949. In the long, moderate 2016 growing season those vines yielded a wine with juicy flavors of dark cherry and raspberry enlivened by notes of orange peel, mint and white pepper. Richly textured and vibrant, it’s a versatile wine for a range of meat and pasta dishes.
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.