Braida winery, lying in Rocchetta Tanaro (a small village in Asti Monferrato), is strictly connected with Barbera wines through a story that begins in 1961 with the production of the first vintage of sparkling Barbera La Monella. The most iconic moment remains however 1982 when the founder Giacomo Bologna produced for the first time his legendary Barbera d’Asti Bricco dell’Uccellone, which enormously contributed to expand his winery fame in Italy and abroad. 40 years have passed since then, Giacomo prematurely passed away in 1990 and his work was continued by his wife Anna Martinengo da Belveglio and, today, his sons Giuseppe and Raffaella, but Bricco dell’Uccellone is still shining as the most famous expression of Barbera in the firmament of Piedmont. Its name comes from the appearence of a woman living on the vineyards hill (Bricco): she was worn mourning with a nose looking like the beak of a crow (“Uselùn” in Piedmont slang=Uccellone).
The peculiarity of this wine, made of 100% Barbera grapes, is the one year ageing in new barriques in order to combine the natural freshness and acidity of Barbera with the complexity and roundness given from the barrique refinement.
Indeed, as this 2016 intense ruby red vintage shows, the scents are rich and complex: first it comes the fruity side with cooked plum, black cherry and blackberry jam, then dried flowers like rose and violette, and spices like cinnamon, clove, black pepper and nutmeg, with a final twist of vanilla, licorice and incense. In mouth you can sense his youth, being this bottle fit for a long cellar ageing, but you already enjoy its full body, generosity and structure, perfectly balanced by sour and savory, with few elegant tannins and a large and fruity finish.
Rating: 92/100
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