Mirafiore Barbera d'Alba Superiore 2011
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2021-
James
Suckling
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James
Suckling
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James
Suckling
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James
Suckling
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Wine
Spectator
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Robert
Parker
Mirafiore wines give expression to a vision, to a precise point of view promoting for some time by Fontanafredda's Bio-nature Reserve: eco-compatibility, the green philosophy. Meaning respect for the environment and the health of the end consumer. Ecological awareness is imprinted first and foremost on the work in the vineyards, where chemical fertilizers and weed-killers are banned, and pest treatments are substantially reduced in order to produce clean grapes with chemical residues approaching zero. The next step takes place in the winery, through a drastic reduction in the use of sulphites compared to legally-permitted limits, and preference given to native yeasts rather than industrial strains. Finally, rounding off the two previous phases, the packaging is composed of 85% recycled glass and labels produced using natural inks. And this is where the seeming contrast between old and new returns, where the new (the container) encloses the old (the contents), which is in turn old itself (traditional) precisely because it is new (clean and fair). Mirafiore wines: Pure expression of seeming contrasts.
Friendly and approachable, Barbera produces wines in a wide range of styles, from youthful, fresh and fruity to serious, structured and age-worthy. Piedmont is the most famous source of Barbera; those from Asti and Alba garner the most praise. Barbera actually can adapt to many climates and enjoys success in some New World regions. Somm Secret—In the past it wasn’t common or even accepted to age Barbera in oak but today both styles—oaked and unoaked—abound and in fact most Piedmontese producers today produce both styles.
An historic village situated right in between the famous regions of Barolo and Barbaresco, Alba is also the name for the larger wine region surrounding the village.
In a sense, “Alba” is a catch-all phrase, and includes the declassified Nebbiolo wines made in Barolo and Barbaresco, as well as the Nebbiolo grown just outside of these regions’ borders. In fact, Nebbiolo d’Alba is a softer, less tannic and more fruit-forward wine ready to drink within just a couple years of bottling. It is a great place to start if you want to begin to understand the grape. Likewise, the even broader category of Langhe Nebbiolo offers approachable and value-driven options as well.
Barbera, planted alongside Nebbiolo in the surrounding hills, and referred to as Barbera d’Alba, takes on a more powerful and concentrated personality compared to its counterparts in Asti.
Dolcetto is ubiquitous here and, known as Dolcetto d'Alba, can be found casually served alongside antipasti on the tables of Alba’s cafes and wine bars.
Not surprisingly, given its location, Alba is recognized as one of Italy’s premiere culinary destinations and is the home of the fall truffle fair, which attracts visitors from worldwide every year.