Barbera d’Alba DOC “Gisep” 2021 – Massolino

The grapes to produce the Barbera d’Alba DOC “Gisep” Massolino were carefully selected in the vineyards. After 10/15 days of maceration, fermentation took place in concrete tanks. Then, the wine was aged 50% in 30 to 50HL Slavonian oak casks and 50% in 600 liters tonneaux for about 18 months before bottling. It remained in bottle for six months before release.

“Gisep” is the Piedmontese version of the name Giuseppe, and this wine is a tribute to the grandfather, who was instrumental to the growth of the estate. Grapes for this wine come from several vineyards located at an altitude of 330 meters above sea level in Serralunga d’Alba.The vines are Guyot-trained and are approximately 40 years old. The plant density ranges from 5,500 to 6,000 vines per hectare depending on the vineyard. Yields are approximately 39 hectolitres per hectare. Here soils are mixed but predominantly limestone. The first year of production was 1998.

This 23 hectare estate has been in the Massolino family since 1896. Since 1994 the style of the wines has undergone a subtle transformation. Winemaker Franco Massolino has done a wonderful job of marrying change with a respect for tradition, something that sets him apart from most of the younger producers in Barolo today. This is in part dictated by the nature of the vineyards that the Massolino family owns in the commune of Serralunga d’Alba – the source of some of the greatest, most structured, robust and long-lived Barolo wines.