critic reviews
The Roagna 2015 Barolo Pira represents a more ample production of 12,582 bottles. This is a tight and articulate wine, with bright cherry fruit, pressed lilac and soft spice. Like the other wines from this deeply tradition-minded estate, there is an evident note of balsam herb that adds lift and vertical intensity to the bouquet.
The 2015 Barolo Pira is lifted and gracious in feel. In this vintage, the Pira is notably perfumed and restrained. Rose petal, mint, crushed flowers, dried cherry, star anise and cinnamon are some of the many notes that grace this delicate, lilting Barolo from Luca Roagna. The tannins are persistent and fine, lending a slightly nervous feel.
product details
The key feature of the season was a July and early August heatwave, followed by a rainy week in mid-August and ensuing cooler temperatures which remained for the rest of the month through to harvest in October. In order to get the best from the hot summer season, Luca adopted various measures: anticipating the harvest (picking began during the first week of October, a week earlier than normal); including a small proportion of whole bunches during fermentations (5%) and also reducing the amount of time the wines spent in wood (three and a half years) in favour of cement vats. He has succeeded in producing aromatic, charming and beautifully-weighted 2015s.
Fruit flavours are smooth and seductive, tannins melt in the mouth and alcohols are measured (being ever so slightly up on the previous year to, 14.3% from 14%.) A hint of spice accompanies the warming, glossy fruit and, most crucially of all, the wines project with great clarity the differences between each of the vineyards. In short, it is a vintage we love and one we anticipate being enjoyable early as well as offering potential to age well into the medium and earlier long term – 10 years plus! The only negative is that the hot early summer conditions and strict vineyard selections have, unfortunately, resulted in yields being down by 20% on average.