Roagna, Barbaresco Asili, 2004

The 2004 vintage marked the first time Roagna bottled Asili as a single-vineyard wine—a milestone from a family that has produced Barbaresco since 1890 and is now in its fifth generation under Luca Roagna. The Asili cru is one of Barbaresco's greatest sites: a protected, south-facing bowl on calcareous marl, producing Nebbiolo of rigorous tannin and exceptional elegance. Roagna's winemaking is among the most traditional in Piedmont: indigenous yeast fermentation, extended submerged-cap maceration lasting sixty to ninety days, and aging in large oak botti for three to five years. The result is Barbaresco of profound complexity and patience-rewarding structure. The 2004 vintage was a classic year of harmonious, perfumed reds—beautifully concentrated with lively acidity and ideal aging structure. Now entering its plateau of maturity, expect saffron, truffle, ripe cherry, and earthy depth with fine-grained, elegant tannin. A wine for contemplation.