The Barbera d'Alba DOC 2022 by Olek Bondonio comes from vines up to 80 years old in the Altavilla vineyard site near Alba and impresses with dark fruit, vibrant acidity and effortless drinkability – an authentic natural wine from Piedmont.
25,63€34,17€ / l
Excl. VAT
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Bottler: Azienda Agricola Olek Bondonio I Via Riccardo Terzolo 14, 12050 Barbaresco / Italy
In the glass
Colour
Slightly translucent ruby to violet red.
Nose
Deep, dark notes of blood plums, blackberries and elderberry, accompanied by fennel seeds, lemon balm, undergrowth and a subtle yeasty touch.
Palate
Juicy and energetic with unusually lively acidity, slender tannins, tart dark cherries and a hint of extract sweetness – perfectly balanced with good length.
Character
Dense yet never heavy – a transparent, straightforward Barbera with an honest signature and addictive freshness.
Pairing
An ideal partner for pasta with mushrooms or truffle, braised beef and mature hard cheese.
Notes
One-month maceration, gentle basket pressing and maturation in large 1,600-litre botti; bottled unfiltered and unfined with only minimal sulphur addition – vinified at an organically certified estate following biodynamic practices.
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
Slightly translucent ruby red with violet reflections – a Barbera of alluring colour depth, without appearing heavy.
Nose
Deep and dark on the nose: blood plums, blackberries and elderberries, accompanied by spicy hints of fennel seeds and lemon balm, a touch of undergrowth and a fine, slightly yeasty note. Dense, yet never massive.
Palate
Juicy, vibrant, with a surprising amount of vibrant acidity – exactly as one would expect from a Bondonio. Dark cherries with a tart edge meet sleek tannins and lovely transparency. Perfectly balanced, with just a hint of extract sweetness and a drinkability that is dangerously effortless.
Finish
Good length, clean and precise – the dark fruit lingers without leaving any heaviness behind.
Terroir & Origin
The vines are located in the Altavilla vineyard site on the hills above Alba – vines aged between forty and eighty years. Olek Bondonio, a former professional snowboarder and heir to a family estate over 200 years old, farms his seven hectares in the heart of Barbaresco – certified organic since 2018, with biodynamic principles applied in daily practice.
Grape Variety & Vinification
Barbera in its purest form: one month of maceration in stainless steel, gentle pressing using a basket press, and malolactic fermentation also in stainless steel tanks. Subsequently, eight to ten months in 1,600-litre botti, bottled by gravity, unfiltered and unfined, with only minimal sulphur added.
Food Pairings
Its firm acidity makes it an ideal companion at the table: Tajarin al Ragù, Agnolotti del Plin, braised ox shoulder, pizza with fennel salami, or simply Pecorino and good salami.
Special Features
Far from playing a supporting role in the portfolio: this Barbera demonstrates that a winemaker working alongside Gaja in Barbaresco’s top crus can produce something extraordinary even from an everyday grape variety. Honest, direct, full of energy – unfined and unfiltered, just like Bondonio himself: no tasting room, no marketing, just the wine.
