2014 Roagna, Barbaresco, Albesani

Drawing its fruit from a leased vineyard in Neive, the Roagna 2014 Barbaresco Albesani opens to a medium ruby color with pretty garnet highlights. The wine is redolent of dark fruit, dried cherry, tilled earth and black licorice. There is much more aromatic intensity here than you might expect given the rather subtle and nuanced appearance the wine makes in the glass. The soils in Albesani are fundamentally calcareous, and these conditions add to the perfumed and fragrant qualities you get here. Production for this wine is 230 cases (of 12 bottles each).

The 2014 Barbaresco Albesani is frankly on another level relative to the other Barbarescos Luca Roagna has recently added to his range. Explosive in its aromatic intensity and ample on the palate, the Albesani will leave readers who enjoy classically built wines weak at the knees. Everything that makes Nebbiolo so alluring comes through in this stunning Barbaresco. Freshly cut flowers, mint, chalk and sweet red cherries all race through this delicious and very promising Barbaresco. This is just a great expression of Nebbiolo.