# Barbaresco Albesani (2020)

- **Producer:** Piero Busso
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Nebbiolo
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €96
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** rose, fresh herbs, sour cherry, pomegranate, red cherry, violet, dried cherry, liquorice, incense, cinnamon, tobacco, dried fruit, earth, leather, wet leaves, forest floor

## About this wine

The Piero Busso Barbaresco Albesani 2020 originates from the esteemed Barbaresco DOCG appellation in Piedmont, Italy. It is a 100% Nebbiolo wine from the Albesani vineyard, specifically the 'Vigna Borgese' sub-plot in Neive. The vineyard boasts old vines, some planted in 1948, situated at altitudes of 210-280 meters with a south-westerly exposure on calcareous, clay, and sandy limestone soils. The Piero Busso estate, a family-run operation since 1948, emphasizes organic farming and minimal intervention winemaking, with this wine being a direct expression of its terroir.

## Interesting facts

- Vines in the Albesani vineyard range from 30 to 70 years old.
- The estate has been officially certified organic since the 2019 vintage.
- Maceration periods can extend up to 60 days.
- The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered.

## Food pairing

The wine's refined tannins and medium-plus body are well-suited to complement the protein and fat in richer meat dishes. Its complex aromatic profile, hinting at dried fruits and herbs, can echo or contrast with similarly earthy or savory food components. The wine's acidity helps to cut through richness, cleansing the palate.

## Wine making process

The production of Piero Busso Barbaresco Albesani 2020 involves hand-harvesting grapes into small boxes to maintain fruit quality. Fermentation is initiated by indigenous yeasts, often in steel tanks or wooden vats, with maceration periods that can extend up to 60 days. The wine is then aged for approximately 24-26 months in large Slavonian oak casks, followed by 6-12 months of bottle aging. The wine is bottled without fining or filtering.