Barbera d’Asti DOCG „La Crena“ 2021

Wine Description for Barbera d’Asti DOCG „La Crena“ 2021 by Vietti

Colour & Appearance

Muted, intense violet-red, colour-dense to the rim – a visual promise of concentration and power.

Nose

Fascinatingly multi-layered: Initially a rustic wildness with forest foliage, damp earth, truffle and saddle leather. Then an intoxicating fruit palette unfolds of sour cherries, wild raspberries and elderberries. With air contact, an impressive mineral depth reveals itself – cool, precise, invigorating. An aromatic profile that oscillates between Piedmontese earthiness and Burgundian elegance.

Palate

Here the true class of this Barbera reveals itself: Dark berry fruit dances with a fine-grained, vibrant acidity – that characteristic Barbera tension that distinguishes great wines. The perfectly ripened tannin is silky and carries, without ever dominating. Remarkable: the 15% alcohol is completely integrated, the wine never feels heavy or hot. Instead, mineral freshness, as if the wine had flowed over dark stones. Juicy, harmonious, with a finesse that genuinely recalls fine Burgundy.

Finish

Long, fresh and sustained by lingering fruit. The acidity remains present and keeps the wine vibrant – one sip demands the next.

Terroir & Origin

The vineyard site La Crena in Agliano Terme lies in the heart of the Asti region. Eight hectares of south-facing vines on calcareous marl, the oldest dating from 1932. These old vines and the chalky soil lend the wine that mineral tension and depth which distinguishes it from simple Barbera.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Hand-harvested Barbera grapes, two-week fermentation with cold maceration, malolactic fermentation and 18 months ageing predominantly in barrique (25% new) plus large wooden cask. Neither fined nor filtered – an authentic, unvarnished expression of terroir.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Perfect with veal involtini with truffle, wild boar ragù with polenta or aged hard cheeses. The vibrant acidity also makes it an ideal companion for pizzette with green asparagus and Taleggio.

Special Features

A Barbera that proves this often underestimated grape variety belongs among Italy’s great wines. Burgundian finesse meets Piedmontese soul – a wine with character and depth.