Roagna Barolo DOCG Riserva La Pira 2006

Roagna makes this Barolo Riserva from the historic Pira vineyard in Castiglione Falletto, one of the great crus of the Barolo zone in Piedmont. The southeast-facing slopes carry the calcareous marl typical of the commune, soils that give Nebbiolo its firm structure and slow, even ripening under the wide day-to-night temperature swings of the Langhe hills. The 2006 spent 72 months in large old oak botti, a long oxidative maturation that softens the considerable tannin of Nebbiolo and knits the wine together without adding oak flavour. The colour is a deep garnet turning brick at the rim, a sign of bottle age. The nose is layered, with dried cherry, rose, tar, leather and truffle. The palate is fully mature, still firm but resolved, savoury and long, with dried fruit and earth on a finish that runs on for some time. This is a traditional Barolo built for the table and for the cellar, and it has reached a fine drinking window. Serve at 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead to let the aromatics open. It suits braised beef, game and hard mountain cheeses.