Brovia, Barbera D'Alba Sori del Drago 2016

Brovia Barbera d’Alba Sori del Drago 2016 is a benchmark example of how the Barbera grape can deliver depth, precision and elegance in the right hands. Sourced from old vines in Castiglione Falletto, at the heart of the Barolo zone, this is Barbera crafted with the same care and respect Brovia devotes to its top Nebbiolo crus. The 2016 vintage, one of the great modern years in Piemonte, lends the wine a striking balance of ripe fruit, vivid acidity and classic structure, making it both immediately appealing and worthy of time in the cellar.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Sori del Drago 2016 shows a deep, vibrant ruby color with a youthful sheen, hinting at its concentration and energy. The nose opens with pure red and black cherry, ripe plum and wild berries, followed by layers of violet, licorice, and a subtle spice and earthiness that speak clearly of its Barolo-zone origins. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, with concentrated fruit wrapped around Barbera’s hallmark lively acidity. Juicy cherry and dark berry flavors are lifted by notes of anise, dried herbs and a faint mineral edge. The tannins are firm yet silky, giving structure without heaviness, and the finish is long, fresh and mouthwatering. Thanks to the superb 2016 vintage and its élevage in large neutral Slavonian oak for around 18 months, this Barbera has excellent aging potential; it is drinking beautifully now but will continue to evolve and gain complexity over the next 8–10 years, and possibly longer in good cellaring conditions.

Production
The fruit for Sori del Drago comes from Brovia’s Barbera parcels in Castiglione Falletto, a village famed for its calcareous clay and marl soils, which impart both structure and a distinct mineral finesse. The vines are traditionally farmed and the grapes are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness, allowing careful selection in the vineyard. In the cellar, Brovia follows a classic, low-intervention approach: gentle pressing, fermentation in stainless steel or cement with indigenous yeasts, and a maceration long enough to extract character without over-extraction. The wine is then matured for about 18 months in large, neutral Slavonian oak casks, preserving Barbera’s bright fruit and acidity while adding harmony and textural polish, with no overt oak flavors.

Food & Serving
This is a highly versatile Barbera that shines at the table. It is a natural partner for classic Piemontese dishes such as tajarin with ragù, vitello tonnato, agnolotti del plin, braised meats and hearty stews, but it also pairs beautifully with roasted poultry, grilled sausages, mushroom risotto, aged hard cheeses and rich vegetarian dishes featuring eggplant or tomato. Serve at 16–18 °C (about 60–64 °F) to highlight its freshness and aromatic complexity. A brief decant of 30–45 minutes is recommended for bottles opened in the near term to let the wine fully express its fruit and floral notes; older, cellared bottles can be opened and poured more gently to preserve their delicate tertiary aromas.

Producer
Founded in 1863 and today run by the Brovia family’s later generations, Brovia is one of the classic, quietly revered estates of Castiglione Falletto. The winery has long been known for its rigorously traditional approach to Barolo and its single-vineyard bottlings, which showcase some of the most distinctive crus in the region. Working primarily with organically minded, low-intervention methods, Brovia focuses on expressing terroir with clarity rather than power for its own sake. Their wines—whether Nebbiolo or Barbera—are celebrated for their balance, purity and longevity, and Sori del Drago has become a reference-point Barbera d’Alba for those seeking a serious, ageworthy expression from the Barolo heartland.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.