Barbera D'Alba Superiore BONORA 2018

Beautiful label, high-end single vinyard Barbera with 15.5% alcohol!

Filippo Gallino – Barbera d’Alba Superiore BONORA 2018

Filippo Gallino Barbera d’Alba Superiore BONORA 2018 is a powerful and distinctive expression of Barbera from the historic Roero hills, produced from 100% Barbera grown in the estate’s historic Bonora vineyard in Canale. The vines grow on red sandy, calcareous and clay-rich soils, and the grapes are harvested entirely by hand in late September. A meticulous selection of fruit and relatively low yields contribute to the wine’s concentration and depth.

The wine shows an intense bouquet of blackcurrant, dark berries, ripe plum and fruit preserve, layered with vanilla, sweet spices and leather. On the palate it is warm, rich and powerful, yet retains the vibrant freshness that is characteristic of Barbera. The concentrated fruit is complemented by notes of cocoa and vanilla, while lively acidity provides an important counterpoint to the wine’s richness. Fine-grained tannins and a long, savoury finish give the 2018 considerable persistence and complexity.

The wine undergoes around 15 days of maceration with manual pump-overs, followed by maturation for 24 months in a combination of barriques and tonneaux. It is then assembled in stainless steel and given an extended period of bottle rest before release, allowing the substantial oak and fruit structure to integrate. The 2018 is therefore a serious, full-bodied and age-worthy Barbera, considerably richer and more structured than a typical young Barbera d’Alba. With its combination of ripe dark fruit, pronounced acidity, savoury depth and finely polished tannins, it is particularly well suited to rich pasta dishes, braised red meats, game and mature cheeses, and should continue to develop additional tertiary complexity with further bottle age.