The 2013 Barbera d`Alba sees fruit sourced exclusively from the Pira vineyard. Part of the vineyard was planted in faraway 1937, and another part in 1990, so the wine’s complexity and finesse is due to many factors, including the mixed ages of the vines. Roagna holds the wine back for five years before its commercial release. It is partially aged in oak (for two and a half years) and cement before the final wine is assembled and put back into cement for a final stage of integration and rest. This vintage was bottled in August 2018. The intent with this wine is to maintain the freshness of the vintage and to avoid big alcohol. As a result, you get fine and delicate blackberry aromas followed by medium structure, soft tannins and crisp berry intensity, and all these elements are beautifully played off one another. 92 points

Roagna`s 2013 Barbera d`Alba is all finesse. Subtle and nuanced, with striking purity of fruit, the Barbera is simply gorgeous. Bright red cherry, plum, game, smoke, licorice and tobacco add shades of nuance. Beautifully perfumed layered, Roagna`s Barbera is super-expressive today. A slight reduction of time in cask has helped retain a touch more fruit and freshness than in some recent vintages. This is another super old-school, entry-level wine from Luca Roagna. I wonder if the 2013 might one day rival the sublime 2010. 93+ points