There’s impeccable transparency and freshness to this Barbaresco on the nose, which introduces bright rose petals, lifted orange peel, crushed stones and sour cherries. The stoney tannins trace intricate detail on the medium-to full-bodied palate, highlighting the racy acidity, brambly undertones and a beautiful array of wild berries. Yes, there’s power and depth of flavor, but this is all about grace and beauty.
Reviews:
- Decanter: Asili is a vineyard renowned for its finesse, and that’s certainly evident on the nose, which is very fragrant and ethereal, displaying raspberry and redcurrant aromas. The palate is still unyielding, very tight and tannic, though it gains in volume and solidity on the palate.
- James Suckling: There’s impeccable transparency and freshness to this Barbaresco on the nose, which introduces bright rose petals, lifted orange peel, crushed stones and sour cherries. The stoney tannins trace intricate detail on the medium-to full-bodied palate, highlighting the racy acidity, brambly undertones and a beautiful array of wild berries. Yes, there’s power and depth of flavor, but this is all about grace and beauty.
Producer Information
Bruno Giacosa is a famous wine producer based in Piedmont, Italy. It is particularly known for its intensely perfumed, textured wines from the Barolo and Barbaresco appellations, made from the Nebbiolo grape variety. Giacosa himself famously began in the wine trade buying grapes for his father’s wines at the age of 15. By 1960, he was ready to begin his own business and soon became one of Barbaresco’s principal producers, along with Gaja and the Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative. In 1964, Giacosa was the first producer in Piemonte to bottle a single vineyard “cru” from the Santo Stefano vineyard. Giacosa’s standards remained high throughout the 2000s: the 2006 and 2010 wines were sold off in bulk as they were not seen as being up to standard, even though most producers did not regard these as poor years. Accordingly, Bruno Giacosa wines are among the most expensive of their kind. Many of Bruno Giacosa’s wines come from trusted growers, rather than estate vineyards. However, in 1982, the house purchased the Falletto vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba and a winery was built. That was followed by plots in La Morra, and in parts of Barbaresco. The vineyard holdings now total 20 hectares (50 acres), and wines made from these vineyards are labeled ‘Azienda Agricola Falletto’. Giacosa’s wines are aged in traditional 5000l botti, though these are now made of French rather than the traditional Slovenian oak. In exceptional years, wines may be released as Riservas which are given a red label.
