Bera – Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà Doc 2017

The Bera family’s winery is one of the historical wineries in the Langhe, which has remained under the radar compared to other names, but which, due to its centuries-old tradition and production quality on the scene north of Neviglie, between Treiso and Neive, deserves closer attention. A century of history, the bottling and sale on their own account took place in the late 1970s; today it is the brothers Umberto and Riccardo who manage 23 hectares of estate vineyards. ‘Moscato centric’, the winery was one of the founders of the Alta Langa and boasts Nebbiolo for Barbaresco in some of the most vocated vineyards. Like this Rabajà, the south-facing estate vines are located lower than the Giacosa and Cortese plots, on predominantly clayey soil. Traditional vinification, short maceration, maximum two weeks, and ageing in large casks (2500 l.) for a period of 24 months, an extra year for the Riserva. Which in this 2017 confirms how the vintage was not entirely understood. With a very slow development, it is now beginning to express itself, maturing those initially green tannins that give it, however, a dense energy, a complexity and a tickling vibration given by a young matrix befitting of great wines after seven years. Just at the beginning of its journey, it brilliantly represents the evolutionary potential that this vineyard has always been accustomed to. The wine leaves the palate with maraschino cherry and balsamicity, displaying a principle of elegance that will be. To be enjoyed today, but even more so in its tenth year.