Roagna Barbaresco Paje 2020

Cellar for 30 years or more. Decant for 2 hours or more before serving. Paje is a taut, medium to full-bodied red wine, packed with scents of violet flowers, ripe red fruit, blood orange, baking spice, and tobacco. It will need some time in the glass to fully reveal its depth. It is emblematic of Northern Italy, a 100% Nebbiolo offering, harvested by hand from slightly less than 2 hectares in the foggy, steep farmlands of the Barbaresco DOCG. The Roagna family are one of the most renowned names in the already famous regions of Barolo and Barbaresco. The winery was founded in the 20th century by Vincenzo, and is now entering its fifth generation, under the stewardship of Luca Roagna. The Paje vineyard is the family’s home territory, providing a rich base of calcareous marl and limestone for the 25 to 50-year-old Nebbiolo vines that went into the making of this bottle. Before release, Paje is aged in neutral French oak barrels for 5 years. It is characterised by its light, almost transparent ruby red colour. On the palate, you can detect deep notes of strawberry, Kirsch cherry, tobacco smoke, dried herbs, and liquorice. It is marvellously complex, and will only develop further with some time in the cellar. Look for an undercurrent of minerality on the finish. This is one of Italy’s greatest wines, suitable for pairing with osso bucco, or a rich tomato stew.