2023 Bruno Rocca Fralu Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont

From select hillside parcels around Barbaresco, this Langhe Nebbiolo offers a pure, youthful lens on Bruno Rocca’s house style. Fralù is drawn from vineyards rooted in limestone and clay, soils that give Nebbiolo both perfume and fine tannic structure. While not bottled as Barbaresco, the pedigree is unmistakable, with fruit handled in a way that preserves fragrance and tension rather than pushing weight. The aim is clarity and drinkability without sacrificing seriousness.

Winemaking follows a restrained, traditional path. Gentle extraction protects aromatics, and ageing is designed to polish tannins while keeping the wine energetic. The result is a Nebbiolo that feels open and expressive early, yet still carries the bones for evolution.

In the glass it shows a bright garnet with ruby edges. Aromas lift immediately with rose petal, sour cherry and red plum, followed by dried herbs, liquorice and a faint earthy spice. The bouquet is floral and lifted, classic Nebbiolo in tone.

The palate is medium bodied and finely structured, with red fruit wrapped in firm, silky tannins and bright acidity. Flavours echo the nose, cherry, cranberry and savoury mineral notes, finishing dry and persistent. The texture balances approachability with grip, inviting early enjoyment while hinting at ageing potential.

It pairs beautifully with pasta, braised meats, mushrooms and aged cheeses. Drinking impressively now with air, it will cellar comfortably for six to ten years, developing leather and earthy complexity.

Fralù captures Nebbiolo in a youthful register, fragrant, structured and unmistakably Langhe, a wine that bridges everyday pleasure with Piedmont pedigree.