2021 Braida-Bologna - Barbera d'Asti Montebruna (750ml)

Braida is inseparable from the small Monferrato town of Rocchetta Tanaro, where Giacomo Bologna inherited both a Barbera vineyard and his father Giuseppe's nickname, earned from a resemblance to a champion handball player. Giacomo would go on to almost single-handedly elevate Barbera's reputation from a humble local pour into a wine taken seriously across Italy and beyond. Though he passed away before seeing his full vision realized, his children Raffaella and Giuseppe, along with Raffaella's husband Norbert, have carried the estate forward, and the Braida name is now closely tied to the grape's revival.

Montebruna took the family thirty-five legal documents and seven years to assemble, piecing together numerous small parcels in Rocchetta Tanaro into a single vineyard of real winemaking value. The wine is 100% Barbera, fermented for around two weeks in temperature-controlled steel tanks before moving into large oak barrels, where it ages for about a year, a process meant to build structure while keeping the grape's natural vibrancy intact.

The 2021 shows a deep purplish-ruby color, with vivid aromas of ripe cherry and red berries backed by notes of spice and dried flowers. The palate is full and harmonious, finishing long with a distinctive touch of almond. It pairs well with pasta in meat sauce, roasted white or red meats, or a selection of aged cheeses and cured meats.