Cigliuti Barbera d’Alba Campass 2023

From their historic perch on the Serraboella hill in Neive, Renato Cigliuti and his daughters, Claudia and Silvia, continue to champion a traditional, farmer-first approach that prioritizes the health of the land over everything else.

The 2023 “Campass” comes from a small, prized parcel of 35-year-old vines rooted in calcareous clay. While many Barberas are built for simple, early drinking, this is a more serious, structured expression that benefits from 18 months in French oak. The result is a wine that feels incredibly plush and blue in its fruit profile—think ripe blueberries and crushed blackberries—accented by sophisticated notes of lavender, menthol, and a touch of dark chocolate.

On the palate, it’s a beautiful study in balance: rich and velvety at first, then focused by that telltale Piedmontese acidity that keeps the whole experience lively and bright. It’s exactly the kind of bottle we love to open alongside a hearty mushroom risotto or a classic braised beef dish. If you’re looking for a red that offers both power and poise from one of the region’s most humble, high-quality producers, this is it.