Along with Conterno, Mascarello, and Rinaldi, Roagna is a part of Piedmont's elite.
The Roagna family has deep roots in Piedmont stretching back four generations. To this day, there's been a steady march of traditionalism.
I've been blown away by what this estate has been turning out. In 2020, I named Roagna's 2014 Barbaresco Albesani my wine of the year.
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Today, I'm very happy to offer Roagna's 1996 Barolo La Pira Riserva for $465.95 per bottle.
This is a wine that's haunted me since I tasted it when it was first released in 2017. I'm very happy to have found a small parcel. To underscore the rarity, it's worth mentioning that these are the only bottles currently available in the country.
Roagna's Riservas are special releases that leave the winery 10-15 years after the vintage and are sourced from old vines in their best sites. The wines also spend a longer time in old botti.
The 1996 vintage in Barolo is one of the greats. It produced epic wines that are grandly structured and simply profound. The comparison that people often reach for is the legendary 1978 vintage.
Roagna's Pira is always one of the most finessed and lifted of their collection. The Roagna family purchased the site in 1989. It is endowed with vines going back to 1937 and a fascinating soil composition of iron-rich limestone and blue and grey marls.
The 1996 Riserva is thrilling. While it is showing beautifully right now, it's abundantly clear that the wine's architecture will allow it to age incredibly well. There's a subtlety, nuance, and savory muscle to the wine that harkens back to the Barolos of the 70s.
I'm very happy to have the opportunity to offer this utterly classic and jaw-dropping Barolo. This is a very special wine.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits
Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media: "Roagna's 1996 Barolo Riserva Pira, a late release from the winery, is absolutely beautiful. Extended time in both cask and bottle have softened the tannins nicely. What comes through is a gracious, mid-weight Barolo that speaks more to finesse than power. Dried cherry, sweet pipe tobacco, mint, dried flowers and leather all lift from the glass effortlessly. The 1996 is a terrific choice for readers who enjoy traditionally made Barolos that are more about tertiary flavors and structure rather than fruit. This is the best bottle of the 1996 Riserva I have tasted."