Barbera d'Alba Bertu 2023 is the powerful Barbera from Azienda Agricola Negro, a family-run winery that has been making wine in the hills of Roero since 1670. From their cellar in Sant'Anna, near Monteu Roero, they combine centuries of experience with a meticulous, modern approach to vineyard and cellar management. What makes Barbera d'Alba Bertu 2023 so special? It's a Barbera from Roero deliberately crafted for long aging, with deep color, high concentration, and, according to the producer, potential for more than 10 years in the cellar.
The grapes for Barbera d'Alba Bertu 2023 come from Italy, from Piedmont, in the Roero hills north of the Tanaro. The vineyards are situated at an altitude of 200 to 300 meters, on south- and southwest-facing slopes that receive plenty of sun but cool down sufficiently at night to preserve freshness. The subsoil consists of calcareous clay, a soil that gives Barbera both ripe fruit, a firm structure, and a spicy undertone. The vines are trained according to the Guyot system, which allows Negro to keep the yield per plant low and allow the grapes to ripen optimally. The harvest is carried out entirely by hand at the end of September, in small 20 kg crates, ensuring the bunches arrive undamaged in the cellar.
In the cellar, traditional fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks. The skins remain with the must for 15 to 18 days, with two delestages (completely draining and pumping back the must) to carefully extract color, aroma, and ripe tannins from the skins without hardening the wine. After fermentation, Barbera d'Alba Bertu matures for a total of 16 months in the cellar before bottling, with a significant portion of aging in French oak, which adds depth and spice. This long maturation results in a Barbera with substantial structure, warm body, and sufficient concentration to continue to develop beautifully for years to come.
Barbera – Roero
Barbera d'Alba Bertu 2023 is 100% Barbera from the Roero hills; the combination of chalky clay, south-to-southwest exposure, and low yields produces an intensely colored wine with concentrated red and black fruit, robust acidity, and a spicy backbone.
