Nearly all from the 2019 vintage, Luca Roagna’s newest release may prove to be his finest yet.

His tendency to push harvest dates has yielded fruit with both a firm spine and vibrant acidity, and his recent refinements in the cellar only add to the growing legend of the 2019 vintage.

Below, we explore the full scope of his work and this much-anticipated release.

2019: A VINTAGE DEFINED BY BALANCE

Luca is known for releasing his wines late: while many producers are already offering their 2021s, he is just now releasing his 2019s.

Leading up to this vintage, Piedmont experienced two extremes: the drying heat of 2017 and the devastating hail of 2018. In contrast, 2019 saw a more temperate growing season, with measured spring rains and summer heat spikes—challenges that top growers like Luca have learned to deftly manage. The result was ideal for the late harvest that Nebbiolo thrives with.

In the cellar, Luca’s patient approach remains largely unchanged. He continues to use capo sommerso (a submerged cap) during fermentation before aging the wines in old barrels. Historically, his wines remained in barrel for five years; while élevage still spans five years, he now moves the wine into cement at key moments to preserve freshness and energy.

Cement tanks at Roagna; photo via Polaner Selections

BARBERA & LANGHE ROSSO

Luca crafts what are arguably the finest Barbera and Langhe Rosso in all of Piedmont. Why? Because he treats them with the same care and precision as his top wines. Both of these wines below hail from the 2019 vintage, and in the case of the Langhe Rosso, it’s composed of younger Nebbiolo vines from the Pira and Pajé vineyards.

ROAGNA LANGHE ROSSO 2019 $55
ROAGNA BARBERA D'ALBA 2019 $55

BARBARESCO

Commune of Neive:

ROAGNA BARBARESCO GALLINA 2019 $195

Gallina is known for its velvety texture and perfumed aromatics, making it one of their most elegant and open-knit wines each year.

ROAGNA BARBARESCO ALBESANI 2019 $195

Albesani is a historic site famous for producing firm, powerful wines. The same vineyard as Giacosa’s legendary Santo Stefano di Neive.

Commune of Barbaresco
(home to the original family winery):

ROAGNA BARBARESCO ASILI VV 2019 $395

Asili is one of Barbaresco’s great vineyards. Its sandy soils produce wines distinguished by their silky tannins and refined aromatics.

ROAGNA BARBARESCO PAJÉ 2019 $195
ROAGNA BARBARESCO PAJÉ VV 2019 $395
ROAGNA BARBARESCO CRICHET PAJÉ 2016 $1,495

Pajé is the heart of the Roagna estate, their largest holding at just 1.8 hectares, rich in calcareous marl. Crichet Pajé, from a select handful of rows, is a legendary bottling.

ROAGNA BARBARESCO MONTEFICO VV 2019 $395

Montefico, with its southern exposure above the town, is historically considered one of the appellation’s top sites. Roagna owns just 0.24 hectares here.

BAROLO:
COMMUNE OF CASTIGLIONE FALLETTO

ROAGNA BAROLO PIRA 2019 $195
ROAGNA BAROLO PIRA VV 2019 $395

Pira, home to Roagna’s Barolo winery, is a steep hillside site producing powerful, structured wines of remarkable depth.

ROAGNA BAROLO ROCCHE DI CASTIGLIONE 2019 $195

Rocche di Castiglione comes from a tiny 0.5-hectare parcel just above and bordering Pira.

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