Palladino Barbera d'Alba DOC 2019

Winemaking in the Palladino family dates back to the mid 1850s in the commune of Serralunga d'Alba in the heart of Barolo production. Palladino also makes this brilliant Barbera d'Alba all sourced from sustainably farmed vineyards in the Serralunga commune, which is known for producing wines of serious structure. Pierro Palladino studied winemaking at the Istituto Enologico, working as a winemaker for other wineries before carrying on his family’s tradition. He bought the current Azienda Vinicola Palladino in 1974, and entrusted its management to Maurilio Palladino, his cousin. Their Barbera d'Alba Superiore is a fruitful, lower-tannin alternative to the burlier Barolo. Grapes are harvested in small baskets, crushed and then fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks before 8 months of aging in old, large-format barrels (botti). The wine is delicious with a little bottle age, showing some fresh fruit character with hints of dried herbs and clove, and a brightness on the palate that is emphasized by persistent acidity. Sustainably grown, vegan.