Barbera d'Asti La Crena 2018

VIETTI

Barbera d'Asti La Crena
2018

  • Organic
  • Vegan
Country
Italy
Regulated designation
Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC)
Region
Piedmont
Appellation
Barbera d'Asti
Varietal(s)
Barbera 100 %
Colour
Red
Sugar
Dry
Producer's website

About this winery

The history of the Vietti winery traces its roots back to the 19th Century. Only at the beginning of the 20th century, however, did the Vietti name become a winery offering its own wines in bottle. Patriarch Mario Vietti, starting from 1919 made the first Vietti wines, selling most of the production in Italy. His most significant achievement was to transform the family farm, engaged in many fields, into a grape-growing and wine-producing business. Then, in 1952, Alfredo Currado (Luciana...

See the VIETTI detail page for more information on this brand

Product notes

The La Crena vineyard is located near the village of Agliano Terme, in a south-facing exposure, with a total surface of about 6 hectares. The grapevines are planted, using the Guyot trellis system, at an average density of 4.800 plants. The grapes were, after a short period of cold-maceration, fermented in stainless steel tanks for about two weeks. During this period a lot of mechanical punching downs, délestage and many open-air pumping overs have been executed. After this, the wine macerates for another week on its skins and is then racked to oak barrels for malolactic fermentation Aging: Barriques, big oak vats and steel tanks for approximately 18 months.

Tasting notes

Intense, deep ruby color. Pronounced concentrated aroma of ripe raspberry and red cherry fruit, combined with spicy and mineral notes and a touch of vanilla and toast. Full bodied on the palate, quite rich, with lush fruit that is well balanced with the acidity, good integration of oak and a long lingering aftertaste.

Press reviews

Vinous

- 94 points -

Antonio Galloni, (Vintage 2018)

The 2018 Barbera d'Asti La Crena is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Readers should be in no rush here. In 2019, La Crena is a bit reticent and less opulent than it can be, but then again, this is a wine that only blossoms with a few years in bottle. Inky dark fruit, gravel, smoke, crushed rocks, spice and lavender open with air, but only reluctantly. The 2019 will be a jewel for those who can wait.

See detailed press review
Wine Advocate

- 94 points -

Monica Larner, July 2020 (Vintage 2017)

The 2017 Barbera d'Asti La Crena opens to all the sunshine, exuberance and richness that come with wines from this hot vintage. Barbera is one of the few grapes in Italy's repertoire of indigenous varieties that welcomes the scorching summer heat ("bring it on," it beckons). It maintains its acidity and tart berry profile despite the soaring temperatures. This is more evident with fruit from the Asti area. This wine offers textual weight all backed by tangy freshness. La Crena is partially made with fruit from old vines, planted some 90 years ago.

See detailed press review
Wine Advocate

- 93 points -

Monica Larner, (Vintage 2018)

The Vietti 2018 Barbera d'Asti La Crena sees its fruit sourced from very old vines with some of the plants approaching the 100-year-old mark. This is a rich and darkly concentrated wine with a lovely bouquet that is lifted and bright. The wine reveals dark cherry fruit, raw blackberry and plum. That opulent, old-vine fruit drowns out much of the acidic sharpness of the grape. Some 10,000 bottles were crafted.

See detailed press review
James Suckling

- 93 points -

November 2019 (Vintage 2017)

This is a very impressive nose indeed for a Barbera, dripping in smoke, dried lavender, licorice, elderberries and herbal liqueur. Despite the exuberant initial impression, the palate is polished and suave, casting a web of neatly arranged tannins amidst plush dark fruit.

See detailed press review