2020 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Vecchia Scarrone
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Wow, this wine is all about concentration and power. This is due to several factors including, first, the hot vintage, and second, the advanced age of these precious vines. Just think, they were planted in 1918, during the closing offensives of World War I. The Vietti 2020 Barbera d'Alba Scarrone Vigna Vecchia is inky black in appearance and is certainly not shy regarding its thickness and density. The wine wraps heavily over the palate with baked fruit and blackberry preserves. This is an extreme expression of Barbera, but when you consider the nuance here, the wine reveals very careful balance as well.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Packed with kirsch, the 2020 Barbera D'Alba Vigna Vecchia Scarrone has another gear, noted with lavender and black pepper. On the palate, it has a supple, silky mouthfeel, with blackberry, black cherry, crushed stones, and a floral perfume through the finish, as well as mineral persistence and ripe sweet tannins. Drink 2025-2035. Vietti was founded by Carlo Vietti in the late 1800s and is based in Castiglione Falletto. After marrying Luciana Vietti in the late 1950s, Alfredo Currado joined the operations of the winery and later was largely regarded as responsible for the resurrection of the Arneis grape. Until this year, the estate had been helmed by fifth generation winemaker Luca Currado Vietti and his wife Elena, who have been the longtime champions of their family’s winery. In 2016, the estate was purchased by Krause Holdings, which had enabled Luca and Elena to continue their roles while simultaneously supporting significant growth, gaining sought-after site acquisitions for production such as Monvigliero in Barolo. Though the winery is in solid control in terms of the winemaking, the recent departure of Luca and Elena is certain to leave a spiritual hole impossible to fill any time soon.
The 2020 Barbera d'Alba Scarrone Vigna Vecchia captures all the magic of the old vines in this Castiglione Falletto cru. Black cherry, plum, licorice, incense, melted road tar and spice all meld together in a Barbera of uncommon complexity, power and elegance. Here, too, the purity of the flavors is nothing short of compelling.