Patrizi Barbera d'Alba 2020
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Wilfred
Wong
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2020 Patrizi Barbera d'Alba is fresh, bright, and delicious. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of ripe berries, spice, and earthy notes. Try it with rotisserie chicken. (Tasted: November 21, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
Giuseppe Manfredi is no newcomer to Barolo. In 1930, he purchased vineyards and a farmhouse in the exquisite Langhe Valley, in Piedmont, Italy. Because of Giuseppe’s foresight, his grandson Aldo Manfredi can carry on the family tradition. Aldo, his wife Gianfranca and their daughters, Luisa and Paola operate the winery. They have brought the estate right up to date with the most modern technology and production techniques. The Manfredi family and their close-knit team pay deep attention to quality. As a result, they perpetuate the inspiring story of a 90+ year-old family tradition. Their winery sits in the beautiful rolling hills of the Langhe valley. The Manfredi family produces and sources high-quality Barbera d’Alba, Barolo and Gavi di Gavi. The family also has 20 hectares of prime Dolectto vineyards at its Bricco Rosso estate in Dogliani.
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.
An historic village situated right in between the famous regions of Barolo and Barbaresco, Alba is also the name for the larger wine region surrounding the village.
In a sense, “Alba” is a catch-all phrase, and includes the declassified Nebbiolo wines made in Barolo and Barbaresco, as well as the Nebbiolo grown just outside of these regions’ borders. In fact, Nebbiolo d’Alba is a softer, less tannic and more fruit-forward wine ready to drink within just a couple years of bottling. It is a great place to start if you want to begin to understand the grape. Likewise, the even broader category of Langhe Nebbiolo offers approachable and value-driven options as well.
Barbera, planted alongside Nebbiolo in the surrounding hills, and referred to as Barbera d’Alba, takes on a more powerful and concentrated personality compared to its counterparts in Asti.
Dolcetto is ubiquitous here and, known as Dolcetto d'Alba, can be found casually served alongside antipasti on the tables of Alba’s cafes and wine bars.
Not surprisingly, given its location, Alba is recognized as one of Italy’s premiere culinary destinations and is the home of the fall truffle fair, which attracts visitors from worldwide every year.