2018 Braida Barbera D’Asti Bricco Dell Uccellone

2018 Braida Barbera D’Asti Bricco Dell Uccellone

2018 Braida Barbera D’Asti Bricco Dell Uccellone “One of the wines that changed the modern history of Italian wine. Dark and almost impenetrable expression with bold layers of thick, dark fruit. The wine is constructed like a little tower, layer upon layer, that rises tall with momentum and power. The intensity is beautiful, and that’s always been the defining trait of Uccellone. It drinks beautifully now, but it will hold its own in the cellar.

Very deep ruby red color with garnet highlights. Rich and complex bouquet with outstanding concentration and density; scents of red berries and forest fruits are particularly evident, with a background of minty spices, vanilla and licorice. Generous flavor with excellent body and remarkable structure, a perfect combination of the characteristics of the grape and the contribution of wood, resulting in refined smoothness and class, with a very long aromatic persistence.

One Of My All-Time Favorite Reds. The Most Iconic Barbera  
One of the wines that changed the history of modern Italian wine.

One of the greatest red wines I have ever  tasted from anywhere was the 1998 rendition of this wine. The wine was originally brought to the US by the great Domenic Nocerino who brought some of Italy’s greatest wines to our tables. The likes of Valdicava, Gaja, Giacossa and Flaccianello. The name of the house is Braida from the family of Bologna. Giacomo Bologna started this great winery which is now run by son and daughter. Daughter Raffaella has done tasting for us before and has one of the greatest personalities to do customer tastings, she’s the best. Now where most great wineries from Piedmont focus on Nebbiolo, Braida is recognized as making the finest Barbera in the world.

Parker’s WA recently commented: “Braida di Giacomo Bologna is a pioneering estate, especially in terms of world class Barbera. This producer almost single-handedly invented the concept of Barbera d’Asti and it continues to offer compelling evidence, vintage after vintage, of the variety’s unquestionable excellence.”

Their wines reach huge levels of richness and concentration matched with superb intensity, complexity and depth. Have this wine with some Osso Bucco and  risotto and it will blow your mind.

The 2018 Braida Bricco dell’Uccellone is an incredible wine. This is one of the greatest Italian red wine experiences to be had. Giacomo was inspired to make this wine after a trip to California in the 1970’s, he loved the wines and understood the importance of using new French oak. He called his wife saying, “We’ve done everything wrong, these are a bit of a piece of work ahead of us.” The first vintage of the Braida Bricco was 1982 and the wine has gone on to become the finest expression of Barbera on the planet. This single vineyard wine from true specialists in this great vintage and being one of Italy’s most celebrated wines is a must! I will be adding a case to my cellar.

Braida

Braida’s story is linked to that of Rocchetta Tanaro, a small town in the Monferrato area. “My village is not a surprise, it is ten vineyards, six houses, one church“: these are the words of the chansonnier Paolo Frola, who is also the local GP in Rocchetta. The song was written with Gianni Mura, drinking the Barbera of Rocchetta. Some of the ten vineyards in Frola’s song belong to Braida. They were owned by grandfather Giuseppe, who left them to his son Giacomo, and now they are cultivated by Giuseppe and Raffaella Bologna. The estate is the product of the enthusiasm, passion and entrepreneurial courage of a bona fide Rocchettese, Giacomo Bologna.

“Braida” was the nickname that Giacomo’s father, Giuseppe Bologna, a professional carter, had earned himself by playing handball, because of his resemblance to the champion of this sport. Along with his father’s nickname Giacomo also inherited his love of the sport and of horses, and a large Barbera vineyard on the Rocchetta hills.