Paitin Barbaresco Albesani 2021
The Wine
96 Pts Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate 'This is the inaugural vintage of a new wine from Paitin from Neive s Albesani s MGA with west-facing vines on Sant Agata marl soils. I d say that this winery is off to a spectacular start. Seeing almost double the maceration time, at 60 days, of the estate's other Barbarescos, the 2021 Barbaresco Albesani 2021 offers great intensity off the bat. The bouquet is redolent of cranberry, orange peel and mulling spice. The aromas are lifted, vertical and direct. There is a note of fresh blue fruit, like a mountain blueberry, that reinforces a delicate and elegant approach. The oak is played well and almost invisible. The finish is silky, with no rough edges, and the tannins are slightly chalky but elegant. Drink 2026-2040'
96+ The Wine Pilot ' 'Red apple skin and flesh kick off a bright and lifted aromatic opening, before descending a little into cherry cola, nutmeg, cinnamon and tilled earth. Pops of raspberry and red rose then emerge with air along with subtle white pepper spice and red liquorice. This is so red fruited and bright making for a moreish beginning. The palate follows suit in its bright red fruit and spice aesthetic, though with immense power and structure. The tannins are stacked, powdery and seemingly unabating, fully commanding the mouth and constricting around cranberry, raspberry, baking spices, red cherry, red liquorice. Said tannins are long and enveloping, pulling the fruit and spice through before bright cranberry acidity finally emerges to freshen things up. There’s a wondrous juxtaposition here, between bright, high toned aromas and flavours, and incredibly powerful and architectural structure. This may outlive us all.'
96+ Pts Gary Walsh, the Wine Front
17.5/20 Walter Speller, Jancusrobinson.com 'Neive. Palish ruby. Subtly fragrant raspberry fruit with a stony, minerally edge. Focused, pure and elegant on the palate with rich yet underlying finely ground, grainy tannins. Strikingly beautiful balance and great length. (WS) Drink 2024-2036'
The Details
Variety - Nebbiolo
Country - Italy
Region - Piemonte
Sub Region - Barbaresco
Extra - Cork
Year - 2021
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
The Paitin winery, owned by the Pasquero-Elia family, was established in 1796 when Benedetto Elia purchased the farmhouse, wine cellar, and surrounding vineyards from Luigi Pelissero. Benedetto’s son Giuseppe acquired the underground cellar and extended their vineyard holdings to 17 hectares. In 1893, the first Barbaresco Sori Paitin was produced and in 1898 the winery began exporting the wine commercially. The next important phase of the winery was in 1965 when Secondo Pasquero-Elia built a new wine cellar at the property and thoroughly replanted the vineyards by massale selection. Secondo Pasquero-Elia, sadly passed away in 2020 but his sons, Giovanni and Silvano are currently running the winery along with Giovanni’s son Luca.
They make a delicious Nebbiolo d’Alba from a vineyard at a house they own just outside of Alba and a fresh, elegant Langhe Nebbiolo from the lesser exposed sites and younger vines on the Serraboella hill. There is also a great, nuanced Barbera sourced from the eastern part of the Serraboella cru – the Barbera d’Alba “Serra” bottling.
In the vineyards, there is the utmost respect for nature and the winery farms organically (fully certified as of 2019). Silvano Pasquero-Elia, who mainly oversees vineyard work, has also been incorporating some biodynamic techniques though there are no plans for official certification. In the cellar, the winemaking follows a traditional protocol. That includes long macerations (3 to 8 weeks for the Barbareschi) and aging the wines in large, neutral botti, mainly Austrian from the famed cooperage Stockinger. In fact, for those with a long memory, the winery flirted briefly with some modern winemaking techniques in the 1990’s, though they didn’t like the results and returned relatively quickly to their classical roots.
We are thrilled to have these beautiful, traditional wines in our portfolio – they are benchmarks for the village of Neive and treats for any lover of traditional Nebbiolo!
