Francesco Rinaldi La Bricca Barbera d'Asti 2012
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From the original cellar with vaults, the work started by Giovanni has been enhanced year after year by his descendants with extension works in the winery at the hand of Luciano and Michele, sons of Francesco Rinaldi, in the sixties. More recently conventional processing in the cellar has been completed with modern technology, optimizing work but at the same time making sure to preserve the uniqueness of our wines. The result is a modern cellar with a traditional taste for meditation. After pressing and fermentation where grapes become wine in a fast and continuous transformation process, the precious liquid moves on to the ‘halls of silence’; cellars dug in the hill, where our Barolo is left to age in Slavonian oak barrels. It’s here that the tale of a grand wine is written; it’s right here where the heart of the winery Francesco Rinaldi beats. A winery where one can sense the family’s passion focused on making the most of the values offered by the Barolo land. The bottling department and warehouse were transferred to Alba in the thirties, a lucky deed by Francesco Rinaldi because the main transport system for bulk goods of those days, the train, had its terminus there.
Friendly and approachable, Barbera produces wines in a wide range of styles, from youthful, fresh and fruity to serious, structured and age-worthy. Piedmont is the most famous source of Barbera; those from Asti and Alba garner the most praise. Barbera actually can adapt to many climates and enjoys success in some New World regions. Somm Secret—In the past it wasn’t common or even accepted to age Barbera in oak but today both styles—oaked and unoaked—abound and in fact most Piedmontese producers today produce both styles.
Recognized as the source of the best Barbera in all of Italy, Asti is a province (as well as major city) in Piedmont, consisting of a gentle, rolling landscape with vineyards, farmland and forests alternating throughout.
Barbera d’Asti can be made in an array of styles from relatively straightforward, fruity and ready for consumption early, to the more concentrated, oak aged version with an ability to cellar impressively for 10-15 years and beyond. Some of the very best sites for Barbera in Asti are concentrated in the subzone of Nizza Monferrato. Other red varieties grown here include Freisa, Grignolino and Dolcetto, which can be bottled varietally or blended into Barbera.
Historically consumers commonly associated the Asti region with Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti, both playful, aromatic, sparkling wines made from the Muscat grape. Asti Spumante is less sweet, fully fizzy and more alcoholic (yet still clocking in at only around 9% alcohol) while Moscato d’Asti is sweeter, gently sparkling (“frizzante”) and closer to 5 or 6% alcohol. Each is produced in stainless steel tanks to preserve the fresh and fruity flavors of the grape, often including peach, apricot, lychee and rose petal. Asti is also the spot for the pink-hued Brachetto d'Acqui, a slightly sparkling wine ready to charm with its raspberry and rose flavors and aromas.