This historic wine put Barbera on the world wine map. It offers the richness and concentration of the Bricco della Bigotta, with the lighted style of the more immediate Montebruna. The character of the Braida 2018 Barbera d'Asti Bricco dell'Uccellone is more sophisticated and complex, with dark blackberry, toasted nutmeg and Spanish cedar. Wait for it, there's that pop of acidity on the close.\n Producer Information\n Giacomo Bologna Braida is an estate in the Monferrato region of Piedmont, just southeast of the town of Asti. It is particularly associated with wines produced from the Barbera grape variety, and is sometimes credited as the first producer in the region to prove that this variety can be aged in new oak barrels. The flagship of the range is Bricco dell'Uccellone, a Barbera d'Asti with rich aromas, voluptuous texture and creamy oak. It is joined at the top of the range by Bricco della Bigotta and Ai Suma, which both see 15 to 18 months in new oak barriques. Braida also makes a range of other wines from Barbera, including a Barbera del Monferrato Frizzante, and a Barbera-dominant blend that also includes Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The estate also produces a number of white wines from Langhe, including a Chardonnay, a Riesling and a Nascetta, as well as a Brachetto d'Acqui and a Moscato d'Asti. Braida has vineyards in several areas of Monferrato and in two sites southeast of Alba in the Langhe region which supply white grapes. The estate in its current form dates back to 1961 when Giacomo Bologna inherited vineyards (and the 'Braida' nickname) from his father. His son and daughter now run the estate and make the wine.
