2014 Roagna, Barbaresco, Gallina

This is a new wine from the Roagna family, made with fruit from a leased parcel in Neive with calcareous sandy soils that help shape the aromatic purity and freshness on display here. The 2014 Barbaresco Gallina is delicately layered and bright, with cherry and wild berry aromas that peel off carefully to reveal crushed stone, licorice, wild rose and rosemary essence. Smooth and silky tannins build a delicate mouthfeel, and the wine offers pleasing acidic freshness. Production of this new release is approximately 2,400 bottles.

The 2014 Barbaresco Gallina offers the open-knit sensuality that is so typical of wines from this site with the classically austere feel that is a signature of the Roagna wines. Sweet tobacco, cedar, licorice and dried herbs add lovely aromatic complexity. The 2014 is a bit clenched today, but it was just bottled recently.