2021 Francesco Versio Barbaresco DOCG

Francesco Versio's 2021 Barbaresco DOCG is a four-vineyard blend from the Neive commune in Piedmont, pulling from San Cristoforo, Currà, Straderi, and the newer Albesani cru. Each site contributes a distinct thread of terroir: the Tortonian calcareous soils of Straderi and San Cristoforo deliver the aromatics and mineral spine Barbaresco is known for, while the sandier clay of Currà and Albesani fill the mid-palate with fruit and floral sweetness. Matured twelve months in mixed oak, the 2021 vintage skews more classical and austere than recent releases — a snapshot of both Neive's soil diversity and a structured growing season. Francesco Versio farms nebbiolo across several parcels in Neive, one of Barbaresco's three historic communes, where the rolling hills and varied soil composition allow for nuanced blending. The Tortonian marls that define San Cristoforo and Straderi are the same ancient seabed deposits that give Barolo and Barbaresco their signature tension and longevity, while the younger, sandier sites contribute immediate charm. The mixed-oak program — a combination of large Slavonian botti and smaller French barrels — respects the fruit without imposing heavy toast, a hallmark of producers who prioritize terroir over oak signature. The nose opens with menthol, dried rose, and red cherry, then shifts to peach skin and blood orange on the palate, where the tannins are chalky and fine-grained rather than plush. This is a wine that wants food: think tajarin with butter and white truffle, brasato al Barolo, or aged Castelmagno. The 2021 vintage produced wines with higher natural acidity and firmer structure than the warmer 2019 or 2020, so expect this bottle to reward cellaring through 2030 and beyond, though it's already singing if you decant it an hour before serving. Available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or shipping nationwide.