Winemaker Notes
Serra is the name the winery's family since long time has assigned to the fresher and more delicate slope of the Serraboella. More evolved soils, richer, less dry, in a more closed and fresh valley, gives origin to rigorous wine, full but never opulent and balanced in their freshness. For some years now, in the Serra they do not have only Neive grapes but also a small portion comes from the Rivoli region of Alba.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
You get tremendous value from the Paitin 2019 Barbera d'Alba Serra, which is fruity and bright but beautifully elegant as well. Barbera is known for its rich black fruit flavors and accessible personality, so it's a real treat to taste a wine that puts so much emphasis on the smaller details offered by the grape. These include tart blueberry, white cherry, exotic spice and crushed stone. There is some softness on the close, but the wine will be remembered for the linear and pristine nature of its fruit.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Paitin Barbera d'Alba Serra explodes with fresh fruit flavors that sing on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of tart red fruits. Enjoy its palate zestiness with lightly spiced roast chicken or turkey. (Tasted: April 24, 2022, Yountville, CA)
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Wine Spectator
An old-school Barbera, exhibiting cherry, earth, iron and almond flavors. Bright, with a lingering, tactile finish. Drink now.
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.