Nebbiolo
75cl * 14.5% ABV * Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
Known as the “Genius of Neive”, Bruno Giacosa’s mastery of Nebbiolo was widely recognised amongst wine lovers. His single-vineyards Barolo and Barbaresco set new standards for the whole regions, allowing a unique blend of traditional and cutting-edge methods. His research of perfection was passed on to his daughter Bruna, who has been at the helm of the estate since 2006, blessing us with some electrifying wines made from just over 17 hectares of vines in Barbaresco and Barolo.
The fashionable new French 225-litre barriques are not for Giacosa: all his wine is aged in large 5,000-litre botti, though these are now French rather than Slovenian. His wines are marvellously perfumed on the nose, and meaty and full-bodied on the palate. They have a suppleness and elegance that few wines in the region can match.
The fruit purity that characterises much Nebbiolo in 2011 is evident in this wine, with cranberry, redcurrant and ripe strawberry notes layered with minerals and spice on the nose and palate. There is a fine balance between delicacy and finesse, concentration and structure; resulting in a wine that is both accessible now and serious enough to reward those who can resist temptation and leave it in bottle for a while longer.
Drinking window: Now - 2030
"This 2011 Barbaresco Albesani Vigna Santo Stefano is on the market since February and has had ample time to flesh out over the last six months of bottle aging. The wine opens to a light garnet color and immediate fruit tones that veer towards the jammy side with sun-dried strawberry and raspberry. It shows a good level of freshness and acidity to counter the warmer tendencies of the bouquet. The tannins deliver a smooth, silky quality and the wine starts to show pretty aromas of wet earth and black truffle after a few minutes in the glass. Drink: 2015-2030." 91 Points Moncia Larner - The Wine Advocate (June 2014)
"Medium with a hint of amber. Highly complex, scented nose combines red plum, cherry, strawberry, clove, medicinal herbs and a hint of orange zest. Intensely flavored, juicy and tightly wound, with lovely cut and definition to the red fruit and spice flavors. Very concentrated, tactile wine whose firm tannic spine will require at least several years of cellaring. Finishes with terrific lift." 93+/100 Points Stephen Tanzer, Vinous