Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
The aromas are still a little shy, hinting at cherry and rose, with a solid core of cherry, strawberry, rose, white pepper and stony mineral flavors. Yet it's the energy in this red that's compelling, exerting itself from beginning to end. Offers superb elegance and harmony on a linear frame. Best from 2027 through 2050.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Of the three single-vineyard Barbarescos produced by Luca Roagna, Gallina tends to be finest and the most delicate. This parcel was leased up until one year ago when Luca was finally able to buy it. It measures one hectare and is characterized by sandy soils. These conditions give rise to floral perfumes with sweet, soapy aromas of lavender and lilac. The 2019 Barbaresco Gallina is underpinned by a long sense of silkiness and finesse. The tannins are sweet, and the wine shows ample energy before closing with polished intensity.
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Vinous
The 2019 Barbaresco Gallina is a very pretty, almost ethereal wine for a site that often yields more fruity Barbaresco. The aromatics are especially open at this stage, even with its recent bottling. Silky tannins and mid-weight structures are the signatures. Dark red cherry, leather, spice and menthol linger on the sublime finish. It would certainly not be a crime to drink this on the younger side.
Responsible for some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world, Nebbiolo, named for the ubiquitous autumnal fog (called nebbia in Italian), is the star variety of northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Grown throughout the area, as well as in the neighboring Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina, it reaches its highest potential in the Piedmontese villages of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero. Outside of Italy, growers are still very much in the experimentation stage but some success has been achieved in parts of California. Somm Secret—If you’re new to Nebbiolo, start with a charming, wallet-friendly, early-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d'Alba.
A wine that most perfectly conveys the spirit and essence of its place, Barbaresco is true reflection of terroir. Its star grape, like that in the neighboring Barolo region, is Nebbiolo. Four townships within the Barbaresco zone can produce Barbaresco: the actual village of Barbaresco, as well as Neive, Treiso and San Rocco Seno d'Elvio.
Broadly speaking there are more similarities in the soils of Barbaresco and Barolo than there are differences. Barbaresco’s soils are approximately of the same two major soil types as Barolo: blue-grey marl of the Tortonion epoch, producing more fragile and aromatic characteristics, and Helvetian white yellow marl, which produces wines with more structure and tannins.
Nebbiolo ripens earlier in Barbaresco than in Barolo, primarily due to the vineyards’ proximity to the Tanaro River and lower elevations. While the wines here are still powerful, Barbaresco expresses a more feminine side of Nebbiolo, often with softer tannins, delicate fruit and an elegant perfume. Typical in a well-made Barbaresco are expressions of rose petal, cherry, strawberry, violets, smoke and spice. These wines need a few years before they reach their peak, the best of which need over a decade or longer. Bottle aging adds more savory characteristics, such as earth, iron and dried fruit.