2022 Cascina delle Rose Barbaresco Tre Stelle

Cascina delle Rose is one of only three benchmark producers lucky enough to hold land in the tiny Tre Stelle Cru. Perched at the highest section of the Rio Sordo Valley, its ancient, limestone-rich blue marls are laced with sand and silt. This estate is widely considered to produce some of the most elegant, feminine expressions of Barbaresco in existence, and their high-altitude plots proved invaluable during the hyper-dry 2022 growing season. Brothers Riccardo and Davide spent more time in the vines than they can remember, using clay dust to stop sunburn and relying on their water-retaining soils to avoid hydric stress. Because the vintage yielded thick-skinned fruit, they handled the grapes with kid gloves in the cellar, steering clear of the traditional submerged cap method to keep the extraction incredibly gentle. The strategy paid off beautifully. The nose is an alluring, fragrant mix of red plum, liquorice, and dried mint. The palate is wonderfully plush and immediate - resembling the approachability of 2017 - but it stays light on its feet thanks to a vibrant thread of acidity and svelte, juicy tannins. It is an incredibly satisfying, savoury bottle that is great fun to drink now but has the architecture to age for a decade or more.