Barbaresco Albesani, Roagna 2020

For lovers of traditionally made Nebbiolo, few names carry the reverence and mystique of Roagna. Deeply rooted in the hills of Barbaresco since the late nineteenth century, with documented bottlings dating back to 1890, the estate has become one of Piedmont’s most uncompromising and sought after producers, crafting wines of extraordinary finesse, detail and longevity from some of the Langhe’s greatest vineyard sites. Today led by Luca Roagna alongside his father Alfredo, the family remains fiercely committed to traditional winemaking, with organic farming, massal selection, wild yeast fermentation, submerged cap macerations that can extend for several weeks, and long ageing in large neutral oak botti all central to the estate philosophy. At the heart of the domaine lies Pajé, one of Barbaresco’s historic crus, alongside celebrated holdings in Albesani, Gallina, Montefico and Asili, while in Barolo the family’s revered Pira vineyard in Castiglione Falletto produces some of the estate’s most profound wines. Roagna’s combination of tiny production, long ageing regimes and uncompromising traditionalism has earned the wines cult status amongst collectors and sommeliers, often drawing comparisons with the great terroir driven domaines of Burgundy for their transparency, precision and extraordinary ageing potential.

Barbaresco Albesani comes from one of the most celebrated vineyards in Neive, a historic cru prized for producing Nebbiolo of aromatic complexity, finesse and exceptional ageing capacity. Roagna farms old vine parcels within Albesani, where calcareous marl soils and elevated hillside exposures contribute to wines of striking perfume and tension. Compared to the broader, more muscular structure often associated with Pajé or Montefico, Albesani tends to express itself with greater aromatic openness and silkier texture, while still carrying the depth and structure required for long ageing. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts and extended submerged cap maceration, allowing the wine to build complexity gradually without aggressive extraction. The wine is then aged for extended periods in large neutral oak botti, preserving the transparency and delicacy of the vineyard. The wine shows rose petal, blood orange, sour cherry and wild strawberry, layered with dried herbs, sweet spice, liquorice and a fine earthy mineral character. The palate is intensely detailed and finely structured, with persistent acidity, polished tannins and a long, haunting finish that captures the elegance and precision that define Albesani at its best.

Origin Italy, Piedmont, Barbaresco, Neive

Grapes Nebbiolo

Vintage 2020

Alcohol 14.0%

Style Perfumed, structured, ageworthy

Bottle size 75cl

Winemaking Spontaneous fermentation with extended submerged cap maceration, followed by long élevage in large neutral oak botti to preserve aromatic complexity, finesse and terroir transparency

Notes Organic, Low intervention, Sustainable Viticulture