Cascina delle Rosse Barbera d’Alba 2021

Cascina delle Rosse Barbera d'Alba is an organic, barrel-aged red from the Rizzolio family, who have farmed a small property in the Sordo valley near Barbaresco since 1948. It is made from Barbera, Piedmont's most planted red, grown on the estate's steep slopes. Barbera is naturally high in acidity and low in tannin, which lets it ripen fully to 15 per cent alcohol here while keeping a fresh, lifted profile. The wine is aged for twenty months in barrel, a long maturation that adds structure, a fine tannic frame and flavours of oak spice and dark chocolate to the ripe fruit. Organic farming keeps the vineyards free of synthetic treatments and preserves the earthy character of the site. Expect a deep, almost opaque red, a nose of ripe cherry, blackberry and plum with vanilla and cocoa, and a full, succulent palate where the rich fruit is balanced by vivid acidity and a warm, savoury finish. Serve at 17 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It is a good match for braised beef, roast lamb and hard mountain cheeses.