Wines Barbaresco Ca' del Baio - Barbaresco Asili - 2021

Viniou Reviews

Ca' del Baio's Barbaresco Asili 2021 is a remarkable expression of Nebbiolo from one of Piedmont’s most revered sites. This cuvée comes from the prestigious Asili cru, a vineyard known for imparting great finesse and complexity to its wines. Crafted exclusively from Nebbiolo grapes, the wine embodies Barbaresco’s signature style, with a luminous ruby hue and an aromatic bouquet of cherries, dried roses, liquorice, and hints of truffle. The 2021 vintage benefits from a classic growing season with moderate temperatures, ensuring slow grape maturation. In the cellar, Ca' del Baio adopts a relatively traditional approach: fermentation on the skins to extract fine tannins and a lengthy maturation in large oak barrels, allowing the wine to integrate and refine its structure while preserving its vibrancy.

Barbaresco is situated in the Langhe hills of Piedmont, a region celebrated for its nebbiolo-based wines. The Asili vineyard is particularly prized for its calcareous marl soils, which impart minerality and freshness, as well as for the protective hills that shield the vines from excessive winds, creating an optimal microclimate. Historically, Barbaresco shares much with its neighbour Barolo, yet typically yields more graceful, earlier-maturing wines with exquisite aromatics. The combination of cool evenings and warm days in this region enables the grapes to develop both depth of flavour and balancing acidity, qualities clearly evident in this vintage.

At the table, this Barbaresco Asili pairs beautifully with classic Piemontese cuisine. Think of brasato al Barolo (braised beef), agnolotti del plin with veal jus, or wild mushroom risotto. Its nuanced structure and aromatic intensity also complement game birds, roast lamb or mature cheeses such as Castelmagno or Parmigiano Reggiano. For a vegetarian pairing, try roasted root vegetables with walnuts and truffle oil.

Serve the wine between 16 and 18°C, ideally in large-bowled glasses that allow its delicate bouquet to unfold. Decanting for an hour prior to tasting can further enhance its complexity, especially while the wine is still in its youth. This 2021 Barbaresco Asili promises both immediate pleasure and excellent ageing potential if stored in a cool, dark cellar.