Chiara Boschis' Barbera d'Alba Superiore 2021 is the Barbera that literally grows next to her famous Barolo, made from the lower parts of the same cru parcels in Barolo and Serralunga. Pira – E. Pira & Figli – is a historic Barolo estate that entered a new phase in 1990 when Chiara Boschis , one of the first female winemakers in the Langhe, took the helm and began working the vineyards entirely by hand and organically. What makes Chiara Boschis' Barbera d'Alba Superiore 2021 so appealing to Barolo lovers? It is a 100% Barbera that combines the power and depth of great Barolo soils with the freshness and juiciness of Barbera, with a style that is both intense and remarkably refined.
The grapes for this Barbera d'Alba Superiore come from Italy, from Piedmont, in the area around Barolo, where E. Pira & Figli owns its own vineyards. The Barbera vines are planted in the lower elevations of the same plots that produce the estate's top-quality Barolo, with an average vine age of around 45 years. The soils are of Elvesian origin, rich in limestone and marl, which gives the wine extra structure and elegance. Chiara Boschis works as an artisan winemaker: all work in the vineyards is done by hand and according to organic principles, with a strong focus on low yields and perfect grape ripeness. This results in a Barbera d'Alba Superiore that clearly bears the signature of the Barolo hills, but in a more accessible, fruit-driven form.
In the cellar, Chiara Boschis follows a method that combines traditional and modern techniques, always with the aim of revealing the grape and its origins as purely as possible. The hand-harvested Barbera is carefully selected and fermented with a gentle approach, ensuring optimal extraction of color and aromas without harshening the tannins. After fermentation, the wine is aged for approximately 16 months in second-use French oak barriques, followed by a further 2 to 3 months of bottle aging before release. This choice of used oak adds complexity, spice, and a creamier texture, while allowing the Barbera's fruit and freshness to clearly shine through.
Barbera – lower parts of Barolo vineyards
This Barbera d'Alba Superiore is 100% Barbera from the estate's own vineyards, from the lower parts of the plots that produce the estate's best Barolo. The combination of old vines and chalky Elvezian soils produces a wine with great intensity, ripe red and black fruit, and simultaneously a lively freshness.
