Barbera D'Alba Superiore
2022
Barolo village Barbera with muscle + lift.
Grape Variety
Barbera
Vintage
2022
Alcohol Content
14.5%
Volume
750ml
Tasting Notes
Food Pairings
Characteristics
About This Wine
Scarzello’s Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2022 comes from the Barolo village’s own backyard: Sarmassa at 250 meters facing west–southwest, and higher Pajagallo at 400 meters with a southeast tilt. Calcareous clay underfoot, Guyot-trained vines 15–25 years old, tight spacing (5,500 vines/ha) and modest yields keep the fruit concentrated and pure. Hand-harvested from late September into early October and bottled in tiny quantities—about 8,000 bottles—this is Barbera with Barolo discipline and poise. In the cellar the must sees a proper 25–30 day maceration, then a patient rest: 12–18 months in large 25-hl casks and 500–600 L tonneaux, followed by a further year in bottle. The 2022 shows Barbera’s signature energy wrapped in depth—dark cherry and plum, a flicker of violet and sweet spice, a savory echo of herbs and balsamic. Full-bodied yet vibrant, it carries fine-grained structure and a long, clean finish. A Barbera of place and intent, equally compelling at the table now and with years of happy evolution ahead.
About Scarzello
Scarzello is a small, family-run Barolo estate with serious vineyards and an old-school soul. The property totals about five and a half hectares of Nebbiolo, with a significant stake in Sarmassa—one of Barolo’s benchmark crus—plus parcels in Terlo and Paiagallo. Densely planted vines, careful farming, and a commitment to lower yields keep concentration high and fruit immaculate. Federico Scarzello has even secured centenarian Michet material for future replantings, underscoring the family’s long view on quality. In the cellar, Scarzello stays firmly in the traditionalist camp. Fermentations rely on wild yeast, macerations run long, and maturation happens in large Slavonian botti (25–30 hl). The flagship Barolo Sarmassa Vigna Merenda can rest up to 30 months in cask before an unhurried spell in bottle; releases come when the wines are ready rather than on a marketing calendar. Federico—building on studies in Alba and Turin and the groundwork of his father, Giorgio—has refined the details without touching the essentials: patience, purity, and clarity of terroir. The results are quietly thrilling Barolo: perfumed with red fruits and spice, poised on silky tannins, and transparent to site. Sarmassa brings depth and drive; Terlo and Paiagallo add nuance and lift. Scarzello is a very good quality traditionalist Barolo producer on a clear upward arc, producing wines that reward cellaring and deliver real finesse at the table. For lovers of classic Langhe character, this is a name to follow.
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