Country: Italy Region: Piemonte Varietal: Barbera Vintage: 2016 Colour: Red Style: Dry Producer: Bruno Rocca Description: The Rocca family originates from Barbaresco. Bruno Rocca took charge of the family... business when his father died in 1978, and decided that all the wine produced by the estate would from then on be sold in bottle. The family now has 15 hectares of vineyards. Stylistically, Bruno is a consummate modernist, making wines with great intensity of fruit while retaining the structure and elegance of the Langhe at its best. He was inspired to look at Asti for a Barbera for the reason that, whereas the best sites in Alba are planted with Nebbiolo, the best vineyards in the Monferrato grow Barbera, and therefore have the quality potential he is looking for. Vineyards The grapes come from vineyards in the commune of Neive, located at San Cristoforo and Cascina Cadet. Soils here are calcareous marine with blue marl and limestone. The vines are approximately 50-60 years old and planted at a density of 4,300 vines per hectare. Vintage Information A warm winter and an early spring started off the growing season. Summer saw regular temperatures and plentiful rainfall with some very intense downpours. These weather conditions meant that production in 2016 was slightly lower than average. A good September and October with a nice temperature range between day and night helped to complete the ripening process. The 2016 wines look to be ageworthy, with good acidity and minerality. Vinification Fermentation took place in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks over a period of 10-15 days. The malolactic fermentation and the maturation of the wine took place in Allier oak barrels where it remained for 12 months followed by a further six months in bottle before release. Tasting Notes Aromas of mature fruits such as prunes, blackcurrants and dark cherries are complemented by notes of toasted almonds and pink peppercorns. The palate is warm, generous and flavoursome with a balanced structure and a lengthy finish. Food Matches: Risottos / Pasta / Goat Cheese / Beef