Tasting Notes: The 2020 Roagna Barbaresco Pajé offers a rich and ethereal profile, combining deep spice and menthol notes with vibrant red Nebbiolo fruit. On the palate, the wine delivers intense red cherry, wild strawberry, and subtle violet and tar nuances, all framed by a powerful yet elegant structure. The tannins are firm and sinewy, integrated beautifully and providing significant shape and a long, savory finish. The 2020 vintage shows a classic "iron fist in a velvet glove" elegance, offering depth of flavor with a graceful yet powerful feel that promises excellent aging potential.
Estate History: The Roagna family has produced wine in Barbaresco since the mid-1800s, with a continuous winemaking legacy dating back to 1880, when Vincenzo and Rosa Roagna produced their first bottles of Barbaresco. The estate, located in the heart of Barbaresco in Italy's Piedmont region, is run today by fifth-generation winemaker Luca Roagna, who joined the family business in 2001. The family emphasizes a highly traditional and artisanal philosophy rooted in respect for nature, employing strict principles such as avoiding artificial fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, working only with old vines (many over 50 years old), and utilizing long macerations and extended aging in large, neutral oak casks (botti). Their commitment to massal selection and indigenous yeasts further ensures a pure expression of their specific vineyard terroirs, which include historic crus like Pajé, Asili, Montefico, and the monopole Pira in Castiglione Falletto.
