2017 Barbera d'Asti La Crena
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The 2017 Barbera d'Asti La Crena is one of the most elegant versions of this wine I have ever tasted. Barbera loves the heat, and the 2017 certainly seems to have responded well to those conditions. La Crena can be a bit edgy in its youth, but the 2017 is wonderfully polished. Give it a few years in bottle to develop the full range of aromatics that make Barberas from this site so compelling. La Crena remains one of the hidden gems in the Vietti range.
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James Suckling
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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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. Exactly 13,250 bottles and 175 magnums were released.
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. Drink from 2023.