2012 - Barbera d'Alba Pozzo Annunziata, Roberto Voerzio

Voerzio's 2012 Barbera d'Alba Riserva Vigneto Pozzo dell'Annunziata is dark, polished and inviting. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, licorice, menthol and new leather meld together in an intense, ample wine that delivers considerable intensity and power. As time goes by and cask gradually replaces barriques here and elsewhere, French oak-aged Barbera seems to stick out more and more.

‘We release this on the market four years after the harvest, like a Barolo. The zone is classified as Annunziata and was planted in 1996 with a density of 8000 vines/ha’. Aged for two years in barriques of which 30% were new. Only available in magnum.Deep, lustrous crimson. Impressive, rich nose of dark fruit and peppery oak. Almost salty/iodine. Lots of concentration and depth on the palate; an explosion of blackberry fruit. The oak certainly isn't shy but the wine displays an amazing balance. Polished but Piemontese-like tannins, and lots of them. Youthful brashness, but with real class. (WS)