Albino Rocca Barbaresco 2018

Albino Rocca Barbaresco draws on old vines at Meruzzano together with younger-vine fruit from three named crus.

Barbaresco sits on the Tanaro side of Alba, its Nebbiolo generally ripening a little earlier than in Barolo and its wines carrying slightly less tannic mass, though the best age just as long. The Rocca cellars are in the village itself, and the family's classic Barbaresco has long been built around a parcel of old vines at Meruzzano. It now also takes in a selection of young-vine fruit from three cru parcels within the commune, Ovello, Ronchi and Cottà, which broadens the blend without thinning it. Fermentation runs for three weeks on skins, giving a full extraction of colour and structure, and maturation is exclusively in large Stockinger botti for twenty-four months. That combination of long skin contact and neutral large-format oak is the traditional Barbaresco recipe, and at this level it yields a genuinely serious wine rather than a simple introduction to the appellation.

Give it two or three years and expect fifteen or more from a good cellar; serve at 16-18°C with braised beef, aged Castelmagno or a mushroom risotto.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.