Barbaresco Pajè Magnum

Pajè is in the commune of Barbaresco proper - a natural amphitheatre site, south to south-west exposed, around 230 metres average elevation. Roagna has farmed Pajè since 1953; the holding totals 1.83 hectares of Nebbiolo, with 0.52 of those at the upper-crest Crichët Pajè plot, bottled separately as a Riserva in top vintages. The regular Pajè cuvée draws from the remaining lower-slope Nebbiolo. The soils are calcareous marl of Tertiary marine origin; Pajè holds the highest active-limestone concentration of any Roagna site, most concentrated at Crichët. Vines average over fifty years old.

Vinification follows the ultra-traditional Roagna template: submerged-cap maceration for sixty to a hundred days, native yeasts. Long aging in neutral large-format oak and concrete vats, around five years total before release. 14.5% ABV. 360 magnums produced for the 2016.

2016 is one of the modern benchmark Piedmont vintages. A cool, late spring delayed flowering by about two weeks, followed by a warm, dry summer - producing wines that are ripe but structured, with firmer tannins and livelier acidity than the more solar 2015. Galloni framed the vintage as reminiscent of 2004 with more fruit and more cellar finesse.