Boschetto Vecchio Barbera d’Asti Superiore 1985 in Wooden Box

Producer – Guasti Clemente

Guasti Clemente is a historic winery based in Nizza Monferrato, Piedmont. Clemente Guasti founded the estate after the Second World War.

From the beginning, Clemente took a pioneering approach to Barbera. In particular, he started identifying the origin of the grapes directly on the bottle label. This idea helped establish the concept of individual vineyard or cru Barbera at the estate.

Boschetto Vecchio became one of the symbols of this philosophy. Today, the third generation continues the family tradition at the historic winery in Nizza Monferrato.

Boschetto Vecchio Barbera d’Asti 1985

The Boschetto Vecchio Barbera d’Asti 1985 is a rare mature release from one of Guasti Clemente’s historic vineyard selections.

The wine comes from the estate’s Boschetto Vecchio vineyard in Nizza Monferrato. The producer now identifies the site more specifically within the Cremosina-Annunziata cru.

Most importantly, Guasti describes Boschetto Vecchio as a wine of great longevity. Therefore, an original 1985 bottle represents a fascinating example of mature Piedmontese Barbera.

Grape Variety

100% Barbera

Barbera naturally combines vibrant acidity with relatively gentle tannins. Therefore, well-made examples can develop beautifully with bottle age.

In a mature vintage such as 1985, the original fruit character may evolve towards more complex tertiary aromas. However, the exact condition of a bottle this old depends heavily on its storage history.

Vineyard

Production area: Nizza Monferrato, Piedmont
Vineyard: Boschetto Vecchio
Cru: Cremosina-Annunziata
Grape: 100% Barbera

The single-vineyard identity is especially important to this wine. In fact, Guasti Clemente’s history links Boschetto Vecchio directly to Clemente Guasti’s early idea of identifying premium Barbera according to vineyard origin.

Ageing & Cellaring

The current Boschetto Vecchio spends:

18 months in oak barrels + 6 months resting in bottle.

However, I would not state that the 1985 followed exactly the same ageing protocol unless you have the original vintage technical sheet. Production methods may have changed over four decades.

What we can say with confidence is that Guasti considers Boschetto Vecchio suitable for long evolution in bottle.

Tasting Profile

For a bottle of this age, the actual condition matters greatly. Therefore, these should be presented as expected mature characteristics, rather than guaranteed tasting notes.

Colour: Garnet to brick red with mature reflections.

Nose: Dried cherry, red berries and floral notes may develop towards tobacco, leather, dried herbs and earthy nuances.

Palate: Mature and savoury, while Barbera’s natural acidity can help maintain freshness.

Finish: Potentially long and complex, with dried fruit, spice and tertiary notes.

The producer’s younger Boschetto Vecchio shows violet, rose, sour cherry, raspberry and blackberry. It also develops vanilla, tobacco and delicate oak characteristics.

After more than 40 years, however, the 1985 should show a substantially more evolved profile if the bottle has been stored correctly.

A Rare Vintage Barbera

The 1985 Boschetto Vecchio has special appeal because of its age and connection with the history of Guasti Clemente.

In fact, the producer states that Boschetto Vecchio bottles from 1946 to today continue to be packaged and finished by hand, following the artisanal approach used for the original bottles.

Therefore, this is more than simply an older Barbera. It represents a mature bottle from a historic Piedmont producer with a long connection to vineyard-designated Barbera.

Food Pairings

If the bottle is in good condition, serve Boschetto Vecchio 1985 with:

• Roast game
• Venison
• Braised beef
• Roast meats
• Truffle dishes
• Mature Piedmontese cheeses

Guasti Clemente specifically recommends Boschetto Vecchio with game and roast meats.

Serving temperature: around 18°C.

Because this is a 1985 bottle, stand it upright before opening to allow any sediment to settle. Then open it carefully. I would avoid aggressive decanting until you assess the wine’s condition.

Collector’s Note

Boschetto Vecchio Barbera d’Asti 1985 is now more than four decades old. Consequently, provenance and storage conditions play a major role in the drinking experience.

The producer itself describes Boschetto Vecchio as having great longevity.

However, with a mature bottle of this age, variation is normal. For this reason, the wine will appeal particularly to collectors and enthusiasts interested in mature Piedmont wines.