Giacosa Fratelli
Barbera d'Alba Bussia 2022
Finding a Barbera from the famed Bussia in Monforte d’Alba is extraordinarily rare, as most of the vineyard is planted to Nebbiolo. Barbera is the most planted variety in Piedmont and it’s what you’ll often find the locals drinking. This wine is ruby red in color, with fresh scents of fruit and pastries. For such an approachable wine, it is remarkably refined and elegant.
Vineyard
This wine comes from Bussia, a sub-region of Monforte d’Albe in the heart of Barolo. The vineyards are located on the grounds of the Fratelli family’s Cascina Canavere, an old 18th century farmhouse. Bussia is one of Piedmont’s grand crus, and is situated in the northern part of Monforte d’Alba. The vineyards are south-east oriented, Guyot trained, and planted on marine sediment and Sant’Agata fossil marl. The vines are an average of 40 years old.
Winemaking
The organically-grown grapes are destemmed and given a full month of maceration during and post-fermentation to build structure. After pressing the wine off the skins, the wine is aged for 12 months in 60 hL wooden casks.
Vintage
The 2022 vintage in Piedmont was challenging after an extremely dry winter. Thankfully, summer rains provided relief, though yields were down in most places by 10-20%.
Tasting Note
Fruity and savory, this red is packed with ripe fruits and floral hints. It is medium-bodied with a lively finish that is ready to drink now.
Color
Red
Other Wines by this Producer
Giacosa Fratelli Barbaresco Vigna Gianmate
Basarin, which translates to "sun-kissed" in Piedmontese dialect, is one of the top crus in Barbaresco. A lot of the region's best producers have vines there, including Sottimano, Patin, Luigi Voghera, and Moccagatta. Vigna Gianmate is a single vineyard within Basarin that is characterized by clay rich soils and some limestone deposits. This is the only one of Giacosa Fratelli's wines that is aged in barrique, instead of large barrels, which speaks to the strength of the fruit coming from these organically farmed vines.
Barolo Scarrone Vigna Mandorlo Riserva
Vigna del Mandorlo is Giacosa Fratelli’s top Barolo cru, located on the Scarrone hillside in Castiglione Falletto. This was bottled as a “riserva," indicating that the wine has been aged for at least 62 months, with a least 18 in wooden barrels. For a traditional producer like Fratelli, bottle age is extremely important. It is well-structured and persistent on the palate, with expressive notes of rose, licorice, tobacco and white truffle.
Barolo Scarrone Vigna Mandorlo
Vigna del Mandorlo is Giacosa Fratelli’s top Barolo cru, located on the Scarrone hillside in Castiglione Falletto. This was bottled as a “riserva," indicating that the wine has been aged for at least 62 months, with a least 18 in wooden barrels. For a traditional producer like Fratelli, bottle age is extremely important. It is well-structured and persistent on the palate, with expressive notes of rose, licorice, tobacco and white truffle.
Roero Arneis
Arneis is the flagship grape of Piedmont, though it was almost extinct by the 1970s, despite a history in the region that dates back to the 15th century. Giacosa Fratelli's Arneis pays tribute to the region's heritage and helps to bring the variety back to its original prominence. The grapes are grown in the sandy soils of the Roero and farmed organically. With a floral and herbal nose, the palate is dry yet velvety with a rich core.
Gavi
Giacosa Fratelli’s Gavi is a traditional Piemontese white made from the classic Cortese grape. Next to Fratelli’s other white wine, Roero Arneis, which is rounder and characterized by ripe orchard fruit and honeysuckle, Gavi is all about freshness and minerality. It has a harmonious nose of yellow apples, chamomile, and lemon zest. The palate has a touch of nuttiness and finishes elegantly with bright acidity.
Dolcetto d'Alba Sarrocco
Giacosa Fratelli's Dolcetto d'Alba Sarrocco is a fresh, drinkable red from a plot within San Rocco in Treiso, just south of Barbaresco. The region is known for its hilltop vineyards and as one of the few places where forests still grow in the Langhe. The calcareous clay soils here help give the wine added structure. The nose is filled with delicious fruity notes of raspberry and oranges. It's a bright and focused wine with firm tannins and a tight finish.
Nebbiolo d'Alba
Giacosa Fratelli's Nebbiolo d’Alba is an approachable Nebbiolo from grapes grown on the left bank of the Tanaro River in Alba, a DOC in the north-eastern corner of Italy's Cuneo province. The sandy soils of the region help manage the tannins, and the wine is vinified in stainless steel to enhance freshness. On the nose, it has aromas of sour cherries, violet, and strawberries. This wine is fresh and fruit-driven, packed with tight tannins.
Barolo
Giacosa Fratelli Barolo is a fantastic introduction to the Fratelli line of Baroli. As a blend of organically farmed Serralunga Valley fruit, the Monforte portion provides concentration and structure from clay soils, and Castiglione Falletto provides a touch of elegance and floral aromas. The nose and palate share notes of strawberry, cedar, and tar. This medium to full-bodied wine is drinkable now or in a few years.
