Tasting Notes: The 2014 Barbaresco Crichët Pajé is a wine of tremendous elegance, known for its slender and delicate profile that displays notes of fragile floral aromas like roses and fresh violets, framed by light mineral shadings, aniseed, and iron ore. On the palate, it is fresh and vibrant, delivering flavors of crushed red-toned fruit, orange peel, mint, and spice, with velvety, fine-grained tannins that provide structure and focus without excess weight. The wine maintains a magical lightness and ethereal quality, culminating in a long, persistent finish characterized by balsamic notes and a savory earthiness.
Estate History: The Roagna family has deep roots in the Barbaresco commune, with a winemaking history that stretches back to the 1880s when Vincenzo and Rosa Roagna produced their first bottles of Barbaresco. The estate grew through generations, with subsequent family members like Giovanni and Alfredo acquiring historic vineyards such as Montefico, Pajè, and Asili. Today, the property is managed by Luca Roagna, the fifth generation of the family, who took over in 2001 after completing his enological studies. The winery adheres to highly traditional principles, including organic and biodynamic vineyard management, the use of indigenous yeasts, incredibly long macerations (up to 60-100 days), and extended aging for many years in large, neutral oak casks and cement, resulting in wines of great depth, complexity, and longevity.
