Fratelli Alessandria Barbera d'Alba '23

The Alessandria family has been making wine in Verduno, at the northern edge of the Barolo zone, since 1830. Originally known as Fratelli Dabbene, the estate took the Alessandria name following a family marriage around 1870. Today, Gian Battista Alessandria, his wife Flavia, his brother Alessandro, and his son Vittore represent the seventh and eighth generations of the family. They farm approximately 15 hectares and produce wine exclusively from estate grown fruit, including several exceptional Barolo bottlings as well as traditional wines from Pelaverga, Dolcetto, and Barbera.

Barbera is sometimes overshadowed by Nebbiolo in the Langhe, but it remains one of Piedmont’s most important and useful red varieties. Naturally high in acidity and relatively low in tannin, it can produce wines that are both rich in texture but also with great freshness. Fratelli Alessandria has produced this bottling since 1968, treating it as a serious expression of Verduno rather than simply an everyday alternative to Barolo.

The fruit comes from 1.2 hectares divided between the Neirane and Cristiani vineyards. Both sites face west, with Neirane sitting between 330 and 400 meters and Cristiani between 250 and 280 meters above sea level. The vines average approximately 20 years old and are planted on limestone rich soils with a significant proportion of silt. The grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed, and fermented with indigenous yeasts in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, with six to eight days of maceration. The wine is then aged for five to seven months in stainless steel and concrete, followed by at least one to two months in bottle.

This is textbook Barbera. The beautiful nose combines raspberry and wild strawberry with rose petals, spice, and cocoa nibs. The palate is medium bodied, with soft tannins, bright fruit, and an energetic finish. Delicious! Serve it with tajarin and sausage ragù.