The Roagna Barbaresco Asili Vecchie Vigne 2007 is a remarkable expression of Nebbiolo, crafted from old vines in one of Barbaresco’s most esteemed crus. This wine comes from Asili, a vineyard revered for its exceptional terroir and the ability of its vines—many over 50 years old—to yield fruit of immense complexity and depth. The 2007 vintage in Piemonte was marked by a warm, dry growing season, resulting in wines of great ripeness, structure, and age-worthy concentration. Roagna adheres to traditional Barbaresco winemaking: extended macerations of up to two months and ageing in large neutral oak casks, allowing the purity of fruit and the nuances of the Asili terroir to shine without the intrusion of new wood.
Barbaresco hails from the rolling Langhe hills in Piemonte, a region famed for its calcareous marl soils that provide structure and minerality to the Nebbiolo grape. The microclimate here is temperate with marked differences between day and night temperatures, particularly beneficial in achieving Nebbiolo’s trademark aromas and acidity. Barbaresco—historically overshadowed by Barolo—has over time asserted its identity, producing wines with elegance, fragrant complexity, and a tannic framework that supports graceful aging.
Nebbiolo in its highest form, as in this Asili Vecchie Vigne, reveals intense aromas of rose, violet, dried cherry, truffle, and earthy undertones, with a palate both firm and velvety, seamlessly weaving together fruit, tobacco, spice, and subtle notes of tar. Such a wine is ideal alongside classic Piemontese dishes—think braised veal shank (osso buco alla piemontese), tajarin pasta with white truffle, or a slow-cooked wild boar stew. Hard, aged cheeses such as Castelmagno or Parmigiano Reggiano also offer a beautiful complement to the wine’s structure and aromatics.
Roagna’s Barbaresco Asili Vecchie Vigne 2007 deserves thoughtful service. Decant the wine for at least two hours to let the bouquet bloom, and serve at 17-18°C. This will fully reveal its layered complexity and bring out the fine, persistent tannins that make it a true classic of Piemonte.
