The 2017 vintage growing year will be remembered for its April frost damage and very hot and dry climate. This is why the conditions were perfect in terms of plant protection. In September, temperatures dropped appreciably with considerable differences between day and night temperatures. This situation helped especially the polyphenolic profile of the red wine grapes with a medium-long vegetative cycle. 2017 can certainly be remembered as one of the earliest years with healthy and complex grapes.
Vintage: 2017
Winemaker: Paolo Giacosa
Grapes: 100% Barbera d’Alba
Growing Area: San Defendente (Canale)
Alcohol: 14,50 % by volume
Food: It pairs with pasta, risotto, barbecue, cheese and salami.
Young Aged
Light Bodied
Sweet Dry
Steel Oak
Colour: Deep ruby red with typical purple hues.
Nose: Wide, complex, vinous with notes of violet, cherry, currant, spices and tobacco while being very persistent.
Palate: Rich of currant flavours, amazingly fresh, velvety, medium to full body, fine texture, with pleasant silky acidity softened by ageing in oak.
Serving: 16 - 18 °C
Cellaring: 8 - 10 years
Exposure: S, SW
Vines age: 15 - 30 years
Soil: Sandy - loamy
Yield: 7000 kg/ha
Harvests: 100% hand-harvested
Training system: Guyot
Farming practices: Sustainable Viticulture
PRE-FERMENTATION PROCEDURES: Grape bunches are hand-sorted on a vibrant table and chilled with carbonic snow to avoid oxidation and reduce considerably the use of sulphur. After destemming, berries are hand-sorted on a second vibrant table and finally softly crushed.
This process is “100% screw conveyor free” to handle grapes as gently as possible.
FERMENTATION PROCESS: The must is cooled to preserve its best characters before fermentation in stainless steel vats and conic oak vats at controlled temperature. The maceration is medium acting using délestage and, partially, submerged cap technique for over 18 days.
OAK REFINING: The ageing of 18 months is made in medium size oak casks (2500-4000 litres) and a little part in barriques and tonneaux.
SAN DEFENDENTE BARBERA D’ALBA is a ripe, multifaceted and amazing Barbera showing an appealing richness in red fruit flavours.
Thanks to the careful handling from the harvest to the oak refining, the grape characters are perfectly included in the wine.