Winemaker Notes
Dense ruby red with violet highlights; nose of dark violets and pressed red-berried fruit. Fresh and well-balanced on the palate, showing cherries and raspberries. Soft, warm entry; juicy and easy-drinking, with finish of good length.
Best served with hot hors-d’oeuvres, pasta with rich sauces, and stewed and boiled meat.
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Pouring a medium purple/red color, the 2021 Barbera d'Alba La Ginestra reveals pretty aromas of fresh plum, wild herbs, wet stones, and purple flowers. The palate is snappy and refreshing, with medium-bodied richness, vibrant acidity, and a pleasing, salty finish. Rating: 92+
-
James Suckling
This is deep and supple with notes of dark berries, cocoa powder, cloves and iodine. Medium-bodied with good fruit concentration and a compact structure. Lively and fruity.
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.