2022 Barbera d'Alba
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Note di degustazione
Barbera does not mind a hot vintage, and from that we can extrapolate that this variety has the most latitude when it comes to climate change. However, it is also vulnerable to Esca disease, and this is a big concern for vintner Roberto Conterno and the winemaking community at large. The 2022 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Francia sees fruit mostly from the lower part of this celebrated site, with vines planted in 1974. Various stages of vine replacement have occurred over the years, and the team is now deciding to start more comprehensive replanting efforts. "Things have gotten worse in the last three years," he says. The Francia vineyard has calcareous soils at the top with sandy and blue marl below. That layer is almost as hard as cement, he says, and it starts to break apart in areas closer to the surface. The soils between upper and lower Francia (with Nebbiolo and Barbera, respectively) don't change too much. This is a beautiful wine with lingering aromas of dark fruit, sous-bois, potting soil and wet iron. The wine's fruit profile grows with time in the glass, giving black cherry intensity. With an ample 15.5% alcohol content, it offers a very richly developed mouthfeel with extra textural heft.
Punteggi della critica
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Altre recensioni e punteggi
The 2022 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Francia is a delicate, understated wine, surprisingly so in this intensely warm, dry year. Sweet red-toned cherry/plum fruit, blood orange and floral top notes are beautifully delineated. Silky tannins wrap it all together in style. I expected to see a more opulent Barbera here. Instead, the 2022 is a bit compact today. That may serve it well over the coming years, hence my optimism about its future prospects.
Youthful, lustrous ruby. Intense depth and perfume spiked with minerals. Vibrant, while filling out the palate. Still maintaining elegance. Gorgeous length and balance. (WS)
Scheduled to hit the market in October, the 2022 Barbera D'Alba is a bright ruby color and keeps remarkably fresh on the nose, with notes of wild black raspberries and fresh flowers. Certainly at the top level of where Barbera generally performs, its freshness and buoyancy are followed by silky tannins and a seamless structure on the palate, with a bit of warmth and lovely notes of tea leaf on its fresh finish. This is a stunning and truly delicious Barbera. Open and drinking well now, it’s going to have a wide drinking window. Drink 2024-2040.
Informazioni sul produttore
Giacomo Conterno è probabilmente l'azienda agricola più celebre del Barolo. Sebbene sia famosa soprattutto per il suo Monfortino Riserva, la qualità riscontrabile in ogni imbottigliamento di Nebbiolo e Barbera in questo luogo ne fa un produttore di riferimento per entrambe le varietà.