Fletcher Barbaresco Roncaglie 2021

Product Information:

Roncaglie is one of the most significant Cru’s in Barbaresco, David considers the site very much a ‘Grand Cru’ of the village. In 2019 David was granted the right to bottle under the Roncaglie cru as opposed to Barbaresco DOCG. David explains that the plot he sources from in Roncaglie is South West facing, a little more shaded so longer hang time & more ferrous soils resulting in dark fruits, more masculine tannin. 

This wine is 100% destemmed. Goes into open fermenter after cuvaison, it is pressed to barrel. Elevage in old oak, over 10 years old, 300ltr barrels. Barbaresco can only be released on the 3rd January following harvest, giving the wine approx. 27 months total aging. David ages his wines for 24 months in barrel (legally it only needs be 12 as a minimum) then 3 months in bottle.

The 2021 vintage is one that will likely go down as better in Barbaresco. It was overall a very drought but not hot vintage; and while it was rainy in France and Germany, in Piedmont’s Langa it was actually less rainy but colder than usual. Otherwise, the 2021 vintage was a year of good production as opposed to 2019 (very classic wines), and 2020 (wines with more fruit but less acidity than those of 2021). Fletcher asserts his 2021 wines have more structure than his 2020s, but all are equally fresh. The best of both worlds.

Maker:

Many feel the wine road inevitably leads to Burgundy, and for many it does, but for some, the final stop is the Langhe hills of Piemonte. It is here that Nebbiolo is the torchbearer of quality delivering a transcendent experience as high as any to be found in food and wine.

David Fletcher's self professed obsession with the Nebbiolo, so much so he resides in Barbaresco where he is completely surrounded by it. David's an Australian by birth and that means he started as an outsider amongst the hills of the Langhe, but he's feeling a little more at home now. My addiction to Nebbiolo has taken him on a ride beyond his imagination. David started making wine from the day he left school, and even though he didn't inherit a winery or watch predecessors work the vines, it's been an uncontrollable passion for as early as he can remember. To cut a long story short, he was first introduced to Nebbiolo back in 2004.... 10 years later, he's living amongst the vines in Italy, making wine in the old train station of Barbaresco, and enjoying the positive feedback from my customers that keeps him striving to aim higher.

In recent years the production has somewhat diverted from only Nebbiolo, and what started with just Barolo and Barbaresco has now grown into 10 wines that are produced from 12 different vineyard sites. Staying in touch with his roots David still makes one wine in Australia too, which is a unique expression of Australian Nebbiolo. ​Overall, the production is compact, with no more than 25,000 bottles that are mostly allocated, making highly sought.

Philosophy:

David works with certified organic vineyards and sites that are under conversion. He is a big proponent for organic farming, always striving for better health and lower impact for the vines and their surroundings. Cognisant of the increasing mono-culture in the Langhe, David offsets the land used for grape production with ownership of the equivalent area in Forest, swamp and grasslands rich in biodiversity.  

With regards to winemaking, David considers himself lucky to be making wines in the Langhe and even luckier he has no legacy to follow. Giving him the freedom to play and deconstruct tradition, all in an attempt to start afresh without any boundaries. He's on a constant search for great vineyards, and always trying to make wines that give a sense of passion and place. Wines are derived from spontaneous ferments with a 'pied de cuve' method. Use old wood with a minimum age of 10 years and in the form of Barriques not Botte...preferring to work in small batches rather than bulking wines up early and each barrique has its own personality which adds to the complexity of the wines. No filtering or fining takes place. Not all the wines will be produced each year, as nature dictates most of what can be produced. So if you see one you like it's always a good idea to snap it up.

Nose - Garden Herbs, Licorice Powder, Complex Cherry Fruit
At first, a little compact and subdued on the nose. With aeration, an amazing amalgam of garden herbs and liquorice powder and with complex cherry fruit lurking underneath. 

Palate - Pure, Nervy Acidity, Ripe Red Cherry
Super-elegant palate weight with great fruit purity.

Finish - Finely Ground, Long Tannins, Chinotto
Finely ground, long tannins and nervy acidity. Quite a stunner

(2020) Barbaresco. Youthful, mid ruby. At first, a little compact and subdued on the nose. With aeration, an amazing amalgam of garden herbs and liquorice powder and with complex cherry fruit lurking underneath. Super-elegant palate weight with great fruit purity. Finely ground, long tannins and nervy acidity. Quite a stunner - Walter Speller, Jancis Robinson.

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal -  Nebbiolo
Country - Italy
Region - Barbaresco
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14.5%