Fortemasso
Barbera d'Alba Superiore 2023
| Denomination | DOC Barbera d'Alba Superiore |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% by volume |
| Area | Piedmont (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Barbera |
| Aging | After several rackings and once malolactic fermentation is complete, the wine is aged in barriques for 12 months, then bottled 14–16 months after the harvest; following a further 6 months of bottle ageing, it is ready for sale. |
- Origin and grape variety: Monforte d’Alba, Piedmont; 100% Barbera, Guyot training system
- Aroma: broad bouquet of rose and blackberry, enriched with notes of chocolate and sweet tobacco
- Palate: warm and full-bodied structure, harmonious, with slight savouriness and a spicy finish
- Vinification: fermentation in steel, maceration for 7-8 days, 12 months in barrique
- Serving: 13.5% vol; 92 pts James Suckling; decant for 1 hour; ideal with meats and cheeses
Description
What kind of wine it is
Fortemasso Barbera d’Alba Superiore is a still red wine that enhances the qualities of the Barbera grape variety. To the eye, it displays an intense garnet colour with violet highlights. The bouquet is broad and complex, characterised by a fragrance of rose and blackberry intertwined with elegant notes of chocolate and sweet tobacco. On the palate, it reveals a warm, full and harmonious structure, supported by a pleasant savouriness and a spicy finish. Ideal after a brief decanting, it pairs excellently with meat dishes such as pork and beef, robust first courses and mature cheeses.
Where it comes from
This red wine originates from Monforte d’Alba, in Piedmont. The Barbera vineyards are cultivated using the Guyot system on calcareous clay-loam soil, benefiting from optimal southern exposure. Careful vineyard management and low yields allow for grapes with great aromatic concentration. The particular pedoclimatic conditions of this area give the wine a remarkable colour intensity and a rich flavour profile, ensuring consistent quality and a deep connection to the Piedmontese territory.
How it is produced
Vinification begins with destemming and gentle crushing of the freshly harvested grapes. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature, with daily pump-overs to extract colour and varietal aromas. Subsequently, the wine remains in maceration on the skins for about eight days before racking. Once malolactic fermentation is complete, maturation continues in barrels for twelve months, during which the wine develops its structure. The process concludes with a further six months of bottle ageing before release.
History and Curiosities
The 2023 vintage of Barbera d’Alba D.O.C. Superiore from Fortemasso expresses the essence and elegance of Monforte d’Alba. Produced from vineyards grown on south-facing calcareous-clay soils, it undergoes vinification in steel with meticulous maceration on the skins. The intense character of this red is enhanced by twelve months of ageing in barrique, followed by a further six months of rest in the bottle. Awarded 92 points by James Suckling, this wine offers a harmonious sip that masterfully celebrates the richness of the Piedmontese terroir.
Awards
-
2023
92/100
James Suckling is an influential American wine critic and journalist who worked at Wine Spectator for 30 years. He left the magazine in 2010 to start his own website and guidebook (JamesSuckling.com). He specialises in Italian and Bordeaux wines.
-
2023
2One of the most prestigious wine guides in Italy.
-
2023
3Italian Sommelier Association (AIS) guide
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
16 - 18 °C
Longevity:
05 - 10 years
Decanting time:
1 hour
- Oenologist: Piero Ballario
- Hectares: 5
The main cultivated vines are the traditional ones of the Langhe, Nebbiolo and Barbera in particular. Read more
| Name | Fortemasso Barbera d'Alba Superiore 2023 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red still |
| Denomination | Barbera d'Alba DOC |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 100% Barbera |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Vendor | Fortemasso |
| Story | History and Curiosities The 2023 vintage of Barbera d’Alba D.O.C. Superiore from Fortemasso expresses the essence and elegance of Monforte d’Alba. Produced from vineyards grown on south-facing calcareous-clay soils, it undergoes vinification in steel with meticulous maceration on the skins. The intense character of this red is enhanced by twelve months of ageing in barrique, followed by a further six months of rest in the bottle. Awarded 92 points by James Suckling, this wine offers a harmonious sip that masterfully celebrates the richness of the Piedmontese terroir. |
| Origin | Monforte d'Alba, Piemonte |
| Climate | Exposure: south |
| Soil composition | Calcareous clay-loam soil |
| Cultivation system | Guyot |
| Plants per hectare | Approximately 4000 plants/ha |
| Yield per hectare | 70 q/Ha |
| Production technique | Fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with daily pump-overs; maceration on the skins for 7–8 days; ageing in barriques for 12 months |
| Wine making | The freshly harvested grapes are brought to the winery and, after destemming and crushing, are fermented in temperature-controlled vats with daily pump-overs to ensure optimal extraction of colouring matter; once alcoholic fermentation is complete, the wine is left to macerate with the skins for a further 7–8 days before being racked. |
| Aging | After several rackings and once malolactic fermentation is complete, the wine is aged in barriques for 12 months, then bottled 14–16 months after the harvest; following a further 6 months of bottle ageing, it is ready for sale. |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |