2021 Cigliuti Barbera d'Alba Vigna Serraboella, Piedmont

The 2021 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Serraboella is a rich, sumptuous wine. Succulent dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, spice and mocha are all beautifully amplified. The aromatics are a bit high-toned, but there is enough fruit to balance things out. The 2021 spent 18 months in tonneaux and cask.

I was totally blown away by the wines I tasted at Cigliuti this year. The 2020 Barbarescos in particular are among the best wines I have ever tasted here. Both wines spent about 20 days on the skins, followed by 26 months in oak, long by Barbaresco standards. Cigliuti is not a new name, yet the wines remain surprisingly under the radar.

91 points vinous.com

Cigliuti Barbera d’Alba Vigna Serraboella is a bold, expressive red from one of Barbera’s greatest terroirs — the Serraboella cru in Neive, within the Barbaresco zone. While Serraboella is best known for Nebbiolo, the Cigliuti family has long proven that Barbera, when grown on these steep, calcareous slopes, can be every bit as complex and age-worthy. Their Barbera from this vineyard is a standout: full of energy, dark fruit, and fine detail.

The grapes come from older vines planted in the mid-1980s at around 350 metres elevation, farmed sustainably with a deep respect for site. Fermentation is in stainless steel, followed by ageing in a mix of large Slavonian oak casks and smaller French tonneaux, allowing the wine to develop structure and savoury nuance without overshadowing its natural vibrancy.

The nose is intense and beautifully layered, offering wild blackberry, black cherry, violets, dark cocoa and a touch of sweet spice. The palate is full bodied but focused, with ripe plum, mulberry, clove and a line of bright acidity that lifts the fruit and keeps everything balanced. There’s a subtle grip and a long, mineral finish that speaks clearly of Serraboella’s pedigree.

Food pairing: ideal with braised beef, lamb ragu, mushroom polenta, grilled pork chops or hard cheeses like Parmigiano or aged pecorino. Also excellent with lasagna or roasted eggplant.

Cellar potential: while vibrant and rewarding now, it will evolve beautifully over 8 to 12 years, gaining earth, tobacco and savoury depth while retaining Barbera’s trademark acidity.