Prunotto 2016 Barbera d'Alba, Pian Romualdo

Half a century ago, celebrated Piemontese producer Alfredo Prunotto imposed new standards on the production of Barolo, elevating the overall level of quality in the wine. His was the first winery to individually select grapes from the finest vineyards and to designate the name of the vineyard (cru) as a symbol of the quality and specific characteristics of the wine. In 1989 when the Antinori group purchased the winery they made smart investments, acquiring plots in prominent vineyards in the most exclusive areas including the Bussia vineyard in Barolo and the Bric Turot vineyard in Barbaresco. The result is a continuation of the the quality improvements started long ago by Prunotto and evidenced in this wine.

Barbera grapes for this wine are from the Pian Romualdo vineyard in Monforte d’Alba. The 1961 vintage of this wine was the first Barbera d’Alba to state on the label the specific cru (Pian Romualdo) from which the grapes were sourced. The soil is very calcareous and light in color. Grapes were destemmed, crushed and macerated for twelve days. The wine aged in oak barrels for 12 months and then after bottling, the wine aged in bottle for an additional 10 months.

Wine Spectator scored this 90 points saying "This is ripe and bursting with plum, fig, chocolate and toasted spice flavors. Smooth, showing a light grain from the oak tannins on the chocolate-tinged aftertaste. Drink now."