Roagna’s Barbaresco Asili Vecchie Viti is arguably the most polished and texturally refined of the estate’s three old-vine single-cru Barbaresco expressions, drawn from one of the most historically celebrated crus in the entire Barbaresco zone. The Asili cru, situated in the commune of Barbaresco on calcareous marl and limestone soils, produces Nebbiolo of exceptional elegance, aromatic finesse and silky texture, consistently described by critics as the most ‘feminine’ and immediately accessible of the estate’s Vecchie Viti series relative to the more austere Montefico and the powerfully structured Pajé. Antonio Galloni of Vinous has described the Asili as producing Barbaresco of “peacock’s tail” character that “combines power with supreme elegance,” while Wine Spectator awarded the 2019 Asili Vecchie Viti 98 points. Roagna’s 0.24-hectare Asili parcel is among the smallest and most carefully farmed plots in the Barbaresco zone, with massale selection from the oldest surviving vines maintaining the genetic diversity and deep root systems that underpin the wine’s extraordinary complexity.

The 2018 Barbaresco vintage was warm and produced wines of excellent concentration and aromatic richness across the appellation. For Roagna, whose extended maceration and multi-year botte ageing draws out the maximum complexity from every vintage, the 2018’s natural richness should be expressed in a wine of exceptional depth and textural breadth while the Asili cru’s inherent elegance moderates the vintage’s warmth into a style of power and refinement simultaneously. The wine will have been released after approximately five to six years in the estate’s cellar, arriving on the market in the mid-2020s having already completed a significant proportion of its development in large Slavonian oak botti.

Roagna’s Asili Vecchie Viti is consistently among the most sought-after Barbaresco wines produced in any vintage, competing with the finest Gaja and Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva expressions for collector attention. Production from the estate’s 0.24-hectare parcel is strictly limited, and market availability is extremely rare. For those able to acquire this wine, the 2018 Asili Vecchie Viti represents one of the most compelling acquisitions in the current Piedmontese fine wine market.

Garnet with a hauntingly complex nose of dried rose, red cherry liqueur, camphor, iron mineral, saffron, dried orange peel and the distinctive silky, polished elegance that sets the Asili cru apart from all other Barbaresco sites. Full-bodied with extraordinarily fine, silky tannins, electric natural acidity and a finish of remarkable persistence, elegance and mineral length. Best from 2028 through 2055.

The 2018 Barbaresco Asili Vecchie Viti is often one of my favorites in the range, as it is again this year. Silky tannins, sweet perfumed aromatics, succulent cherty fruity and cedar are some of the aromas and flavors that grace this wonderfully expressive, caressing Barbaresco. Luca Roagna nailed the balance here. The 2018 is ethereal, but also not light. If anything, it has plenty to say. This should be terrific with a bit of time in bottle. - Vinous

Showing succulent cherry, raspberry, rose hip, eucalyptus, green tea and white pepper aromas and flavors, this expressive red is bursting with energy, while moderate tannins shore up the terrific saline aftertaste. Offers fine balance. - Wine Spectator