Cesare Bussolo
Vigna Santa Lucia Barbera d'Alba
Alba, Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Fairly consistent throughout but better on Day 1 to my palate where the freshness carried the day. The 2022 “Vigna Santa Lucia” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with wonderful notes of fig, plum, old attic, dried wildflowers, and organic, iron rich earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ with ferrous minerals. A positively lovely Barbara d’Alba that effortlessly draws one’s attention. Drink now through 2032. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Fairly consistent throughout but better on Day 1 to my palate where the freshness carried the day. The 2022 “Vigna Santa Lucia” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with wonderful notes of fig, plum, old attic, dried wildflowers, and organic, iron rich earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ with ferrous minerals. A positively lovely Barbara d’Alba that effortlessly draws one’s attention. Drink now through 2032. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass
Dec 19th, 2025
Always a joy. No formal notes at an event.
Always a joy. No formal notes at an event.
Sep 30th, 2023Popped and poured, decanted for 90 minutes and then enjoyed over the next several hours. The 2019 Cesar Bussolo Barbera d’Alba “Vigna Santa Lucia” pours a bright ruby color with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is redolent of berry fruit: blackberries, blueberries, and brambles along with fresh basil, black licorice, sarsaparilla, dry earth, and some spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose with savory minerals in the long finish. Based on this experience and the fact that this hardly budged as the hours rolled by, it gives me the impression that this has a very long life ahead. Try again after 2025 and enjoy through 2035.
Popped and poured, decanted for 90 minutes and then enjoyed over the next several hours. The 2019 Cesar Bussolo Barbera d’Alba “Vigna Santa Lucia” pours a bright ruby color with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is redolent of berry fruit: blackberries, blueberries, and brambles along with fresh basil, black licorice, sarsaparilla, dry earth, and some spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose with savory minerals in the long finish. Based on this experience and the fact that this hardly budged as the hours rolled by, it gives me the impression that this has a very long life ahead. Try again after 2025 and enjoy through 2035.
Jul 9th, 2023In the zone. So delicious, spicey and grapey.
In the zone. So delicious, spicey and grapey.
Jun 24th, 2023In the zone now. First wine in eight days due to the flu. Thankful no COVID-19. Nose is spicey, ebullient and ripe. Juicy nose if possible. Mega Barbera fruit but also a Cornas like granitic tension. Wonderful deep and big berries. Palate is fresh and elegant with lovey linearity and freshness. Gotten more nimble as it ages. Very sappy and pure. Opulent but only just so. Great acids, balance and freshness. So so pure. Excellent showing.
In the zone now. First wine in eight days due to the flu. Thankful no COVID-19. Nose is spicey, ebullient and ripe. Juicy nose if possible. Mega Barbera fruit but also a Cornas like granitic tension. Wonderful deep and big berries. Palate is fresh and elegant with lovey linearity and freshness. Gotten more nimble as it ages. Very sappy and pure. Opulent but only just so. Great acids, balance and freshness. So so pure. Excellent showing.
Apr 29th, 2022Outrageous Barbera. Violets and intense minerality. Black plum. Raspberry. So so floral. Wow minerals. Exuberant. So elegant and juicy. Concentrated but never heavy. Weight of a feather and so juicy with intense mineral backbone. Really has a wonderful structure and depth and bathes the palate with minerals. Complex. Give this 3-4 years.
Outrageous Barbera. Violets and intense minerality. Black plum. Raspberry. So so floral. Wow minerals. Exuberant. So elegant and juicy. Concentrated but never heavy. Weight of a feather and so juicy with intense mineral backbone. Really has a wonderful structure and depth and bathes the palate with minerals. Complex. Give this 3-4 years.
Nov 26th, 2020
Would probably be higher with older vintage
Would probably be higher with older vintage
Oct 12th, 2025
