Description

Often, I wouldn’t bother with Barbera but Ratti’s Barbera d’Alba is a winner. Ripe, rich, intense plums, cherries and hints of liquorice, oak and sweet spices. The palate is plush and full. This is a wine to drink from now and over the next 3 years. Classic tomato based dishes will make for a happy match.

Renato Ratti revolutionised Barolo and therefore will forever be celebrated for his contributions. He has passed away now but his wine maker and family carried on his legacy. The estate style rather intense and powerful. They pack in some alcohol while retaining balance with new French barriques. These are wines that don’t necessarily look their best young, but with age the good old tar n roses comes back.

Piedmont

Known as one of the greatest wine regions in the world, its name literally means the ‘foot of the mountain’. Piedmont located in the North Western reach of Italy. There are a lot of parallels drawn between the best wines of Piedmont (Barolo and Barbaresco) and the wines of Burgundy. The region neighbours France and Switzerland with its border defined by the Alps to the north and west and Apennines to the south. These natural defences were used to keep the Ligurians safe from Roman invasions. Luckily it didn’t work forever, as we may not have the wines that we cherish today.

Alba

An ancient city at the heart of the region and its centre of trade. It is also the region that gives its name to quality Dolcetto, Barbera and Nebbiolo.

Barbera

Approximately half of the red wine made in Piedmont is made from Barbera. Look for currants and blackberries, liquorice and oak characters.