Roberto Voerzio Barbera d'Alba Pozzo dell'Annunziata (1.5 Liter Magnum) 2015
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James
Suckling
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The 2015 Roberto Voerzio Barbera d'Alba Pozzo dell'Annunziata is a deep, regal purple in color, the wine is ripe and wonderfully complex with lush flavors of blackberry jam and ripe cherries followed by layers of chocolate, mocha, cassis, licorice, coffee liqueur and smoke. Very textural on the palate, intensely flavorful and full-bodied with silky, polished tannins, all of which leads to a long, rich finish.
This Barbera is outstanding when served with roast beef, truffle-laden dishes, and medium-aged cheeses.
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James Suckling
This is a spectacular magnum with plums, blackberries, blueberries and dark chocolate. A hint of toasted oak. Graphite undertones. Full-bodied, rich and layered with great density and intensity. Orange peel and spice. Old-vine magic. Greatness.
Roberto Voerzio roots himself in the vineyards of Piemonte. Working beside both his father and grandfather, the beauty of La Morrainspired Roberto to pioneer for new pastures. Since age 20, the young man was aware of the prestige that came with his region, as well as the untapped potential unforeseen with La Morra and greater Langhe.
Now a living legend of Piemonte, Roberto founded his philosophy on 3 pillars: Prime Location, Natural Farming, and the Unique maintenance of vineyards -low yields, extreme selection (green harvest) with high density plantation. He strives for a wine that only finds perfection in its rarity.
“One of the central tenets of the Voerzio approach,” says Antonio Galloni, “is a steadfast belief that the relationship between low yields and high quality is always linear.”
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.