Roagna, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco Albesani, Piedmont, Italy 2017

100% organically farmed Nebbiolo from one of the famed vineyards located in the commune of Neive. Roagna's Barbaresco Albesani is a deep, pure and soil-driven wine that offers up fine depth of black fruit, a strong sense of terroir, hints of licorice and fresh herbs and a judicious base of tariness. On the palate it is full-bodied and structured, with firm, well-integrated tannins that demand some time in the cellar before drinking. Fermentation lasts ten days in large wood casks. They ferment with a pied de cuvee made from their indigenous yeasts. They then use the technique of submerged cap (cappello sommerso), which can last 60-70 days. The wine then ages for five years in large, neutral botti. The fine estate of Roagna has long roots in the commune of Barbaresco, having been started very early in the twentieth century by Vincenzo Roagna. The estate is now at the very top of the quality pyramid in Piedmont. The style of the estate’s wines has been carefully passed down through all f