A grape variety saved by saved by Massa & on the rise! With Vietti, Roagna and Borgogno adding their names to those making Timorasso, it's clear something special is happening in Derthona (the old name for Tortona).
'The 2019 Timorasso Derthona Montemarzino is bright, transparent and super-expressive. Luca Roagna's Timorasso is one of the most refined versions. I have tasted of Timorasso, which is usually a much more rustic white wine.'
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The flowers, roses, are showing, the red fruits shining, exceptional harmony, the wine has freshened beautifully in the glass over the course of 15 hours. The earthy and savoury notes fallen into the background. Wonderfully fine, long, slatey tanin, so even, the hallmark of extend maceration grace your tongue making for an entrancing dance with devine acid. Tranparent, and, elegant, the fruit weight here is deceptive, much more depth and length than might initially be percieved. Graceful Gallina
The 2016 Barbaresco Pajè is one of the highlights in this range, as it offers gorgeous mid-palate depth with super-classic structure. Dark cherry, tobacco, licorice, leather and deeply-pitched spice accents infuse the 2016 with captivating nuance. The Pajè represents a bridge to the higher-end wines in this range. All of these wines have become pricey, but the Pajè is one of the larger-production wines and consistently delivers superb quality at a more approachable price than many of the othe
More power, darker fruit more prominent with a little baking spice, and a clear build in structure by comparison with the Gallina. Again the time on skins and in wood has developed and harmonised this beautifully. It’s woven in so many complexing characters, that as with all delicious wines are hard to pull apart, nor should you try. 15 hours in the glass and the core of fruit is shining through. Firm mid-palate tannin is weighted nicely against that sweet fruit and juicy acid. It will be faci
On openning the Pira was all beefstock, savoury with a hint of reduction. Revisited with 15 hours in the glass. There you have it DJ Luca has been at it again. The fruit has come to the fore. The faded flowers so common with great wines from Castiglione Falleto are shining along with red fruit, orange and a hint of baking spice. It’s the shape, focus, mouthfeel and exceptional interplay between fruit of depth and length weighted beautifully against long even tannin matched to vibrant acid that
On openning the Pira was all beefstock, savoury with a hint of reduction. Revisited with 15 hours in the glass. There you have it DJ Luca has been at it again. The fruit has come to the fore. The faded flowers so common with great wines from Castiglione Falleto are shining along with red fruit, orange and a hint of baking spice. It’s the shape, focus, mouthfeel and exceptional interplay between fruit of depth and length weighted beautifully against long even tannin matched to vibrant acid that
The 2016 Barbaresco Pajè is one of the highlights in this range, as it offers gorgeous mid-palate depth with super-classic structure. Dark cherry, tobacco, licorice, leather and deeply-pitched spice accents infuse the 2016 with captivating nuance. The Pajè represents a bridge to the higher-end wines in this range. All of these wines have become pricey, but the Pajè is one of the larger-production wines and consistently delivers superb quality at a more approachable price than many of the othe
The 2015 Barbaresco Pajè Vecchie Viti captures everything that makes Nebbiolo so seductive. The 2016 Barbaresco Pajè Vecchie Viti is an exotic, totally beguiling wine laced with super-classic Nebbiolo notes of rose petal, orange peel, cinnamon and macerated cherry. Aromatic, sensual and constantly changing in the glass, the Pajè Vecchie Viti is everything Nebbiolo and Barbaresco are supposed to be. The complexity here is just unreal.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The 2015 Barbaresco Pajè Vecchie Viti captures everything that makes Nebbiolo so seductive. The 2016 Barbaresco Pajè Vecchie Viti is an exotic, totally beguiling wine laced with super-classic Nebbiolo notes of rose petal, orange peel, cinnamon and macerated cherry. Aromatic, sensual and constantly changing in the glass, the Pajè Vecchie Viti is everything Nebbiolo and Barbaresco are supposed to be. The complexity here is just unreal.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The 2016 Barbaresco Montefico Vecchie Viti is a big, statuesque wine. Of all the 2016 Barbarescos, the Montefico seems to be the wine that is still recovering most from its bottling, about two months before this tasting. The vertical structure of Montefico is evident, as are the intense tannins. Deeply savory and mineral, the Montefico is a wine for readers who can afford to wait for it.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The 2016 Barbaresco Asili Vecchie Viti is sensual, gracious and light on its feet. The purity of the fruit is simply dazzling, while tannins are all Asili, which means a bit softer than in the other wines. In the glass, the Asili is beautifully perfumed and ethereal, yet also quite deep, in the way only Nebbiolo can be. Crushed red berry fruit, kirsch, orange peel, cedar and cinnamon all linger.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The 2006 Barolo Pira Riserva Black Label is a tiny selection of about 2,400 bottles that spent five years in cask and then a decade in cement. Dense, exotic and beautifully layered, the Riserva captures that sense of timelessness that is often a signature of the Roagna wines - a place in time in which wines are both aged and young at the same time. It's that co-existence in two different worlds that defines many of the best wines here. Spice, orange zest, chocolate, spice, star anise and sweet
This! The 2013 Barbaresco Crichët Pajè brings together so many of the elements that make the Roagna wines so compelling today. In the past, Crichët Pajè was a huge, tannic wine. The 2013, on the other hand, is incredibly finessed. Sweet red cherry, rose petal, blood orange, cedar, kirsch and cinnamon are some of the many notes that grace the 2013. Sensual and silky, the 2013 is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. There's real depth and substance here. What a wine. Drink 2025-2043
Antonio Gallo
The 2016 Barbaresco Asili Vecchie Viti is sensual, gracious and light on its feet. The purity of the fruit is simply dazzling, while tannins are all Asili, which means a bit softer than in the other wines. In the glass, the Asili is beautifully perfumed and ethereal, yet also quite deep, in the way only Nebbiolo can be. Crushed red berry fruit, kirsch, orange peel, cedar and cinnamon all linger.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The 2006 Barolo Pira Riserva Black Label is a tiny selection of about 2,400 bottles that spent five years in cask and then a decade in cement. Dense, exotic and beautifully layered, the Riserva captures that sense of timelessness that is often a signature of the Roagna wines - a place in time in which wines are both aged and young at the same time. It's that co-existence in two different worlds that defines many of the best wines here. Spice, orange zest, chocolate, spice, star anise and sweet
This! The 2013 Barbaresco Crichët Pajè brings together so many of the elements that make the Roagna wines so compelling today. In the past, Crichët Pajè was a huge, tannic wine. The 2013, on the other hand, is incredibly finessed. Sweet red cherry, rose petal, blood orange, cedar, kirsch and cinnamon are some of the many notes that grace the 2013. Sensual and silky, the 2013 is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. There's real depth and substance here. What a wine. Drink 2025-2043
Antonio Gallo