Cascina Alberta
New to me, and in fact a fairly new concern focused on producing organic wines in Barbaresco. As is typical with many new endeavors, and this is an undertaking by outsides new to the wine industry, there are lessons to be learned but the overall direction seems to be a good one.
All botte purchased since 2012. Natural yeasts since 2015, since 2014 for Barbaresco
Shooting for two to four months of wood for baselines, nine months for Barbaresco
Out of cask:
2015 Barbera Superiore is a fruit bomb, if you like Zinfandel you'll enjoy this 15% fruit bomb
2016 Langhe Nebbiolo fermented as barbaresco 25 days 8 months in oak, big style of Langhe Nebbiolo, again very fruit driven but at the same time fairly tannic, smells of oak more than tastes of oak
2015 Cascina Alberta Barbera d'Alba
Only SS, a selection was removed for the superiore tasted previously, six months in SS, using the less ripe grapes
Fruity on the nose with aromas of plums, tar, mint and wild flowers, this actually smells fairly sweet. Smooth, fairly rich but not heavy in the mouth with an intensity that recalls the superiore a bit. Fairly seamless with good juicy acidity, lots of black cherry and cut plummy fruit on the palate with a gentle wash of aromatic spice over the backend which turns peachy on the short finish. A touch clumsy, but the acidity keeps this from being excessively sticky, pretty short. 84pts
2014 Cascina Alberta Barbera d'Alba Tres
Six months in botte
Earthy and lean on the nose with a decidedly savory aromatic profile featuring some beef broth notes and a little dried porcini layered over dark, slightly dried, tea tinged fruit. Lean on the palate and fresher and more delicate and elegant than the 2015. Transparent a bit subdued in the mouth after the exuberance of the 2015 but with nuance and detail; also somewhat short but definitely easier on the palate and a more pleasurably drink. 85pts
From 2016 50% of Barbera is aged four months in botte
2015 Cascina Alberta Langhe Nebbiolo
Full of wild raspberry fruit with a hint of a balsamic top note this is also very floral on the nose and rather fragrant as it is still marked by oak. Decidedly sweet and perfumy, with a little passion fruit and some cloves spice. Light in the mouth and nicely aromatic but at the same time this has some stickiness to it, a bit of matte richness. Front loaded with fruit and tannins, this fairly disappears on the finish though is fresh and fairly juicy. 84pts
2014 Cascina Alberta Langhe Nebbiolo
A bit more oak perhaps here, or less competing substance though this fills out nicely on the nose with an array of savory and meaty aromas all dusted with chalky minerality, and a hint of cigar wrapper. Broad with a sense of delicacy in the mouth, this spreads out nicely on the palate, there's nice power here, gentle but firm with dry tannins, fine acid and balance. Again though this is a bit short, more complete than the 15 and it shows decent length but the finish is sharp with hard acidity uncovered on the finale. 84pts
2014 Cascina Alberta Barbaresco Giacone
Wild mint and wild fennel show good intensity on the very perfumed, floral driven nose that is underlaid with some supporting sweet and spicy wood tones Fairly round, though bright and edgy with real richness that is well tempered by the contrast of high acidity. Still, this has lovely burnished red fruit, ripe tannins, decent length, and is surprisingly fruit driven for the vintage. Finishes a bit on the short side. 87pts
2013 Cascina Alberta Barbaresco Giacone
Minty and herbaceous and in fact quite medicinal on the nose with strong aromas of wild fennel, nettles, licorice, and chinato There’s real complexity to the medicinal and savory flavors that emerge on the palate as well. Softer than 2014, though better knit in the mouth with a generally easy character, clean and fresh in style if a little tight. Nuanced and restrained wine from the get go with decent length and a lithe, elegant feel. 88pts
2012 Cascina Alberta Barbaresco Giacone
Sweet licorice, black tea, hint of incipient gun powder and a touch of artichoke all come together on the generally sweet and herbal nose which also shows a little meatiness here as well. This finds a middle path between the 2013 and 2104 with tannins are a little firm, slightly dry but in proportion to the midpalate weight and acidity that is just right, keeping the slightly burnished cherry fruit of the palate fresh and succulent. This offers good depth, with late arriving spice notes of rosehips and sandalwood lending some nuance. 88pts
All botte purchased since 2012. Natural yeasts since 2015, since 2014 for Barbaresco
Shooting for two to four months of wood for baselines, nine months for Barbaresco
Out of cask:
2015 Barbera Superiore is a fruit bomb, if you like Zinfandel you'll enjoy this 15% fruit bomb
2016 Langhe Nebbiolo fermented as barbaresco 25 days 8 months in oak, big style of Langhe Nebbiolo, again very fruit driven but at the same time fairly tannic, smells of oak more than tastes of oak
2015 Cascina Alberta Barbera d'Alba
Only SS, a selection was removed for the superiore tasted previously, six months in SS, using the less ripe grapes
Fruity on the nose with aromas of plums, tar, mint and wild flowers, this actually smells fairly sweet. Smooth, fairly rich but not heavy in the mouth with an intensity that recalls the superiore a bit. Fairly seamless with good juicy acidity, lots of black cherry and cut plummy fruit on the palate with a gentle wash of aromatic spice over the backend which turns peachy on the short finish. A touch clumsy, but the acidity keeps this from being excessively sticky, pretty short. 84pts
2014 Cascina Alberta Barbera d'Alba Tres
Six months in botte
Earthy and lean on the nose with a decidedly savory aromatic profile featuring some beef broth notes and a little dried porcini layered over dark, slightly dried, tea tinged fruit. Lean on the palate and fresher and more delicate and elegant than the 2015. Transparent a bit subdued in the mouth after the exuberance of the 2015 but with nuance and detail; also somewhat short but definitely easier on the palate and a more pleasurably drink. 85pts
From 2016 50% of Barbera is aged four months in botte
2015 Cascina Alberta Langhe Nebbiolo
Full of wild raspberry fruit with a hint of a balsamic top note this is also very floral on the nose and rather fragrant as it is still marked by oak. Decidedly sweet and perfumy, with a little passion fruit and some cloves spice. Light in the mouth and nicely aromatic but at the same time this has some stickiness to it, a bit of matte richness. Front loaded with fruit and tannins, this fairly disappears on the finish though is fresh and fairly juicy. 84pts
2014 Cascina Alberta Langhe Nebbiolo
A bit more oak perhaps here, or less competing substance though this fills out nicely on the nose with an array of savory and meaty aromas all dusted with chalky minerality, and a hint of cigar wrapper. Broad with a sense of delicacy in the mouth, this spreads out nicely on the palate, there's nice power here, gentle but firm with dry tannins, fine acid and balance. Again though this is a bit short, more complete than the 15 and it shows decent length but the finish is sharp with hard acidity uncovered on the finale. 84pts
2014 Cascina Alberta Barbaresco Giacone
Wild mint and wild fennel show good intensity on the very perfumed, floral driven nose that is underlaid with some supporting sweet and spicy wood tones Fairly round, though bright and edgy with real richness that is well tempered by the contrast of high acidity. Still, this has lovely burnished red fruit, ripe tannins, decent length, and is surprisingly fruit driven for the vintage. Finishes a bit on the short side. 87pts
2013 Cascina Alberta Barbaresco Giacone
Minty and herbaceous and in fact quite medicinal on the nose with strong aromas of wild fennel, nettles, licorice, and chinato There’s real complexity to the medicinal and savory flavors that emerge on the palate as well. Softer than 2014, though better knit in the mouth with a generally easy character, clean and fresh in style if a little tight. Nuanced and restrained wine from the get go with decent length and a lithe, elegant feel. 88pts
2012 Cascina Alberta Barbaresco Giacone
Sweet licorice, black tea, hint of incipient gun powder and a touch of artichoke all come together on the generally sweet and herbal nose which also shows a little meatiness here as well. This finds a middle path between the 2013 and 2104 with tannins are a little firm, slightly dry but in proportion to the midpalate weight and acidity that is just right, keeping the slightly burnished cherry fruit of the palate fresh and succulent. This offers good depth, with late arriving spice notes of rosehips and sandalwood lending some nuance. 88pts