2022 Fratelli Alessandria Barbera d'Alba Priora, Piedmont

The 2022 Barbera d'Alba Priòra bursts from the glass with dark red-toned fruit, graphite, leather, incense and tobacco. There's impressive textural depth and palate presence. The 2022 spent 15 months in cask. It’s a gorgeous wine that shows a move towards greater stylistic consistency with the other wines in the range.

Vittore Alessandria did not seem especially concerned about the challenges of 2022. He described the fruit as healthy and made the wines with a similar approach to other years. Alessandria gave his 2022s 30 days on the skins, which is typical here, including extended time on the skins in what is best described as a “semisubmerged cap maceration.” I tasted the wines from cask just prior to bottling. The 2022s are a touch light at this stage, but these are often wines that flesh out with time in bottle. Alessandria plans to bottle his full lineup of single-vineyard Barolos.

92 points AG Vinous

From the hills around Verduno, Fratelli Alessandria brings the same care and precision to Barbera as they do to their Barolo. The family, now led by Vittore Alessandria, has long worked these vineyards with a focus on tradition and site expression, and Priora shows just how compelling Barbera can be when handled with restraint.

The 2022 vintage delivers both ripeness and freshness. Deep ruby in the glass, the aromatics are vibrant and inviting, dark cherry, plum and blackberry layered with hints of violet, spice and a touch of earth.

The palate is juicy and energetic, with bright, crunchy acidity carrying the dark fruit across the palate. There is a lovely balance between richness and lift, with soft, supple tannins and a subtle savoury edge adding depth. A hint of spice and a gentle mineral note linger through the finish, keeping it fresh and moreish.

This is a natural fit for food. Pasta with ragù, grilled sausages, or roasted vegetables all work beautifully, as do dishes with tomato where the acidity of the wine and food come into harmony.

Drinking beautifully now and over the next five to eight years while its vibrancy and balance are at their peak.

There is an easy charm here, a Barbera that delivers both flavour and freshness, making it a perfect go to for the table.