Prod. del Barbaresco

Intense color, a fresh bouquet of red fruit and sweet floral notes, tannin-resistant taste, beautiful harmony between acidity and alcohol, medium weight, persistent finish. For years our price-performance winner among the Nebbioli from the Langhe! SUPERIORE.DE

"Rose and wild berry aromas lead the way, while the palate offers ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, star anise and a hint of iron. It's full bodied but accessible, thanks to pliant tannins and fresh acidity." Wine Enthusiast

"This Langhe Nebbiolo is sourced from across the region and on a combination of soil types. It's fermented in concrete to preserve freshness, before ageing for five months in large oak barrels. It displays ripe, vanilla-scented hedgerow fruits with a fresh, crunchy, sweet cherry aroma. In the mouth it has impressive intensity and plenty of playful acidity. The dark fruit flavours are supported by a supple texture and the nuances of spice are perfumed and exotic. A brilliant wine for early drinking and great quality considering the basic appellation." Decanter

"As a palate teaser before this lovely flight of Riservas from Produttori del Barbaresco, I am delighted to start off with the delicate and fine 2018 Langhe Nebbiolo. Showing a light ruby color, this wine takes baby steps with hints of wild rose, dried blueberry, crushed limestone and powdered licorice. It sports a fragile, fine texture. If you crave for a basic and absolutely satisfying taste of pure Nebbiolo, look no further." Robert Parker

In a deep, vivid ruby to garnet red, Barbaresco shows itself with the extensive bouquet of red fruits and pastries and a mineral touch. On the palate it convinces with a rich, solid structure and a continuous development, which ends in a long, fragrant final. Every year, the leading winegrowers' cooperative in Italy shows what they and their members are capable of with their basic Barbaresco. Complimenti! SUPERIORE.DE

"Tasted blind. Youthful looking mid ruby. Iron, oats and lifted sweet, rich fruit. Bags of ripe cherry on the palate but nothing out of kilter or overdone. Tannic layer under generous sweet-sour cherry fruit. Embryonic and with plenty of stuffing." Jancis Robinson

"Produttori's 2016 Barbaresco is delicious now and is only going to get better. It's a deliciously fresh wine, its structure tucked away behind clean acidity and earthy layers of dark, ripe fruit. This is a sculpted wine, with fine, powdery tannins that are currently a bit drying on the finish but should resolve." Decanter

"Cherry, tar and menthol flavors mark this rich, silky red. Even more expansive on the palate, building to a long, complex aftertaste. Beautifully balanced, this picks up a minerally accent on the finish." Wine Spectator

"The 2016 Barbaresco is a stunning wine with tremendous richness for this bottling. Ample, deep and powerful, the 2016 exudes pedigree and class from start to finish. I can't remember a straight Barbaresco here with this much fruit density and unctuous richness, and yet there is more than enough tannin and overall structure to give the wine its classically leaning feel. A blast of sweet red cherry fruit, tobacco, menthol licorice and smoke hits the potent finish. What a wine!" Vinous

"Enticing aromas of violet, woodland berry, loose vineyard soil, wild mint and a hint of spearmint shape the intensely fragrant nose. The tense, young palate is still nervous but already boasts finesse, showing wild raspberry, crunchy red cherry, white pepper and star anise. Firm, refined tannins and racy acidity give it a linear, almost austere elegance, while bright acidity keeps it focused and balanced." (Cellar Selection) Wine Enthusiast

"The 2016 Barbaresco is a tight and beautiful wine that will require more time to unwind and soften. This beautifully balanced vintage is characterized by a tight inner core of fruit that underlines the graceful aging capacity of these wines. The 2016 is shaping up to be one destined for long cellar aging. Now in its youth, the wine offers wild berry, rose and licorice aromas." Robert Parker

Montestefano Riserva 2015 is exquisite and harmonious from start to finish. Among the 2015s of the Produttori, it is the one that best hides its tannins, as the fruit is intensely fragrant, rich and seductive. For us it is a synthesis of Montefico, Ovello and Rabajà. Today, Montestefano gives the sensation of being relatively accessible, but it will almost certainly go through a few closing phases until it opens up completely. On the nose it surprises us with an almost endless complexity and depth. Its silky, polished tannins give an impression of sensual elegance. Crushed meadow flowers, mint, liquorice and dark red cherries are just some of the notes that envelop the deep, long finish. Fabulous! SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano rounds out this series of wines from Produttori del Barbaresco. Ample and resonant on the palate, the Montestefano shows all the natural breadth that is so typical of this site. On the palate, the Montestefano is rich and explosive, with tremendous depth and fabulous overall balance. Dark cherry, plum, espresso, licorice and spice build into the dark, sumptuous finish." Vinous

"Balsamic aromas of camphor mingle with mature dark-skinned berry, leather, licorice and vanilla on this structured red. The full-bodied palate reflects the nose, delivering raspberry compote, star anise, crushed mint and hazelnut alongside firm, fine-grained tannins. Drink after 2023." Wine Enthusiast

"This small cooperative goes from strength to strength under the dynamic management of Aldo Vacca. Montestefano is one of the top sites in the commune of Barbaresco. The nose is still reserved, but there are rich red fruits lurking. Very concentrated on the palate, this is lush and approachable, although one senses there is much in reserve, with excellent ageing potential. It's taut and imposing, with a finish that's tangy and persistent." Decanter

"This is the last wine I tasted in this group of nine from Produttori del Barbaresco. The reason I placed the 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano last is because it is usually considered to be the most powerful and determined in the flight. However, when you really get down to it, this vintage is more tight, streamlined and ethereal than expected. It is saving the best for later, and indeed, the wine is poised to evolve and open fully many years from now. There is a note of shyness here or restraint. This Riserva demands patience." Robert Parker

Rio Sordo Riserva is particularly dense, rich and balanced. In the bouquet roses, spices and raspberries. On the palate it is very complex and of wonderful depth. The floral notes right up to the final make this feminine Barbaresco Riserva irresistible even at a young age. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo comes across as quite powerful and dense today. A few months ago it was more refined, but today I get the impression of a wine that is growing in bottle. As always, the Rio Sordo is a Barbaresco of textural suaveness and early appeal, relative to the more structured wines in this range. Spice, new leather, tobacco and cedar meld into the supple, resonant finish." Vinous

"Dark-skinned berry, camphor, rose and crushed stone aromas shape the nose along with a whiff of pipe tobacco. The aromas carry on to the structured, full-bodied palate along with juicy Marasca cherry and licorice. Firm, fine-grained tannins provide support." Wine Enthusiast

"This wine usually falls somewhere in the middle of the Riserva continuum (starting with the most lithe and elegant wine and ending with the most powerful) presented by Produttori del Barbaresco in this knockout series of nine single-vineyard expressions. The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is another personal favorite. This group of Ovello, Rio Sordo, Asili and Rabajà (that sweet spot of neighboring vineyard sites in Barbaresco) is especially profound in 2015, striking a careful balance between elegance against power. The Rio Sordo offers tight and sharp fruit complete with a little tannic pinch or crunch on the close." Robert Parker

Pora overwhelms with incredible complexity and a variety of aromas ranging from stone fruit, raspberries and liquorice to dried flowers, spices and white truffles. On the palate, the Pora offers noblesse and a certain seriousness before opening with bite and juiciness and ending with a velvety wide finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is just as radiant and seductive as it was a few months ago. Plush and sumptuous in the glass, the 2015 Pora captures all of the natural intensity of the year. Even with all of its lush fruit, the Pora has plenty of structural underpinnings beneath. Succulent dark cherry, plum, espresso, menthol and licorice notes flesh out in this forward, wonderfully inviting Riserva from the Produttori. In 2015, the Pora is a real overachiever. Best of all, it should drink well with minimal cellaring." Vinous

"Following the suggestion of Produttori del Barbaresco General Manager Renato Vacca, I am starting off this series of nine Riservas with the 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Pora. This wine is usually the most delicate, slender and ephemeral of this set. However, I can immediately confirm that this is not necessarily the case with this exuberant 2015 vintage. The sunny heat of the growing season has successfully drawn out more fruit weight and intensity in this edition of Pora. The wine overdelivers in terms of aromas, but its streamlined and polished personality follows through to the palate. Those divergent intensity levels will smooth out with more bottle age." Robert Parker

"Underbrush, wild herb and dark-skinned-berry aromas form the nose along with a whiff of camphor. On the firm, structured palate, tightly knit but noble tannins offset dried Marasca cherry, cranberry, orange zest and star anise. Tense and youthfully austere, it needs a few years to unwind." Wine Enthusiast

There is a successful separation of powers between extract, tannin and alcohol. The spicy fruit aroma with seductive leather and tobacco notes and the strength and elegance of the taste guarantee a splendid palatability and high pleasure. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Asili shows a bit more aromatic lift and freshness than it did a few months ago, which is a very good sign for its future. Sweet spice and floral notes play off a core of sweet red Asili fruit. Medium in body, silky and inviting, the Asili is another highlight in this range. Like all of these wines, it shows the riper fruit and softer contours of a warm year." Vinous

"Wild berry, violet, new leather, forest floor and eucalyptus aromas lift out of the glass. The elegant, full-bodied palate delivers dried black cherry, raspberry compote, licorice and dried mint alongside taut, polished tannins. Given the hot, dry growing season, this is a more powerful and concentrated version of Asili." Wine Enthusiast

"One of the protagonists in this group of nine, the Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Asili shows bright cherry fruit, dried raspberry and blood orange. The wine's delicate aromatic layering continues with rusty iron, aniseed, tea leaf and camphor ash. Those lifted and vertical aromas contribute to the energy and vibrancy that this wine awards to the palate. The finish is extremely polished and tight, and those pretty flavors are folded neatly into the wine's silky texture. This wine has many years, or decades, of aging built into its inner clock." Robert Parker

Barbaresco Riserva Montefico has energy and sheer power with a certain rigour that will soften over the next few years. Dark red fruits, leather, aniseed and other spices are among its many aromas. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is one of the most intriguing wines in this range. My impression is that the 2015 still has quite a bit to say, but this is Montefico, where the wines are slow to reveal themselves. White pepper, dried herbs, dried red cherry and mint add a super-appealing upper register. This is such a compelling Barbaresco." Vinous

"The Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico boasts a solid center of gravity with dark fruit, plum, spice and spent embers. Everything about this wine is sultry, velvety and succulent. It goes to follow that the wine's structure is more pronounced, contoured and shapely. This Riserva delivers more sheer fruit weight (in the context of the always elegant Nebbiolo grape) that is carried with grace and poise throughout." Robert Parker

"Balsamic aromas of camphor and new leather mingle with scorched earth and mature black-skinned berry on this full-bodied red. Mirroring the nose, the enveloping palate delivers ripe Marasca cherry, black raspberry and licorice alongside tightly knit, fine-grained tannins before a hazelnut close." Wine Enthusiast

Pora overwhelms with incredible complexity and a variety of aromas ranging from raspberries and liquorice to dried flowers, spices and white truffles. On the palate, Pora Noblesse offers a certain noblesse and seriousness before it opens with bite and juiciness and ends velvety wide. SUPERIORE.DE

"Promising scent of stone fruit, leather and tobacco; juicy in the mouth, the acidity perceptible, the tannin well integrated, racy and powerful, yet rich in finesse. To saddle of venison." Vinum

"Lustrous mid ruby with orange tinges. Sweet, peppery raspberry nose with hints of strawberry jam. Clean-cut raspberry palate with plenty of acidity, but the fragrant fruit follows through. Fine layer of sandy tannins that become more prominent on the finish." Jancis Robinson

"I had tasted this vintage last year as a barrel sample. Now a fully complete wine, the 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Pora did not disappoint, and even jumped up a few points. The Riserva Pora opens to dark fruit intensity with a slightly more accessible quality. Those lovely floral tones of lavender and violet are ever present. After having spent three years in oak and another year in the bottle, this wine offers a looser mouthfeel in terms of tannic structure, making it a bit more open and immediate in personality. You could uncork this bottle in 2020 if you just can't wait, but ideally, it is meant for the longer haul." Robert Parker

"Although Pora is a relatively low-elevation site and can produce broad wines, Produttori's growers own almost half the cru, so they can select the best grapes for this Riserva. It's beautifully perfumed, with pure raspberry fruit. The palate is streamlined and poised, with a sleek texture and a remarkable purity of flavour, yet it doesn't lack structure and its fine acidity gives it drive and persistence." Decanter

"Round and supple, exuding cherry, berry, licorice, eucalyptus and tar flavors. Harmonious and well-built, with a long aftertaste of menthol." Wine Spectator

"The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is a dark, sensual beauty. Deeply spiced and balsamic, with tremendous textural richness, the Pora is utterly beguiling. I can't remember a Pora with this much depth, textural resonance and brooding intensity. The 2014 needs at least a few years to be at its best, but it is superb even in the early going. I won't be surprised if the 2014 turns out to be better than this note suggests." Antonio Galloni

Muncagota, with a complex scent of cherries and raspberries, smoke, tobacco and spices, offers a remarkable fullness, sweetness and length to the palate from a young age. A well-structured, classic Barbaresco, which already gives us pleasure today and certainly for many years to come. Undoubtedly also its first-class price-performance ratio. SUPERIORE.DE

"Mid ruby and the most youthful looking of all the 2014 Riserva crus. Cool raspberry nose that is slow to open up. Intense yet not sweet raspberry palate that is fresh and concentrated and with a firm structure. Very complete, but needs time. A little vibrant and mouth-watering on the finish." Jancis Robinson

"Lean and taut, this reveals mint, menthol, licorice, orange peel and subtle cherry flavors, all underscored by assertive tannins and lively acidity. An austere style, this will need time to come around." Wine Spectator

"The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is another of the overachievers in this range. White pepper, bright red cherry, floral notes and mint cut through the fruit in this beautifully vivid, crystalline Barbaresco. There is a level of energy, drive and overall nuance in the 2014 I don't recall having seen in the past. The 2014 is a terrific Muncagota." Antonio Galloni

"The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is beautifully polished and bright, with dark berry fruit, ripe cherry, crushed stone and pressed flowers. The wine is compact and firm, and you feel the tannins and power in the mouth. The Muncagota remains slightly more closed in terms of the bouquet, but this will open up with some time." Robert Parker

The fine layered Barbaresco Ovello impresses with its lively garnet red colour and a fragrant melange of red fruits, a touch of mint and sweet spices. Impressive in typicity and vintage expression with a great taste, which flows softly and harmoniously into the long finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"One of the stand outs in this range, the 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello shows the energy and tension that are so typical of this site, but with a slightly riper profile than is the norm. Then again, we are talking about 2015. Although perhaps not the most classic expression of Ovello, the Produttori's 2015 is very nicely done. Best of all, it will drink well with just a few more years in bottle. This is an especially heady, exotic Ovello Barbaresco that needs to shed some baby fat, its considerable appeal today notwithstanding." Vinous

"The Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello has a very distinct character that is expressed in terms of its fine but present tannic structure and its somewhat fragile primary fruit. The Ovello dives straight into those ephemeral Nebbiolo aromas with an emphasis on licorice, tar, blue flower and campfire ash. If you consider this timeline of Riservas, this wine brings us through that magic threshold in which Nebbiolo starts to show its unique aromatic appeal and mystique. This is always one of my favorites in this series of nine." Robert Parker

"Fragrant and full bodied, this structured red has enticing aromas evoking woodland berry, balsamic aromas of pine, rose petal and exotic spice. The enveloping palate delivers crushed raspberry, succulent Marasca cherry, licorice and nutmeg alongside firm, tightly knit tannins. Fresh acidity lends tension and balance." Wine Enthusiast

Muncagota, with complex aromas of cherries and raspberries, smoke, tobacco and spices, offers the palate a remarkable fullness, sweetness and length even when young. A well-structured, classic Barbaresco, which already today, and certainly for many years to come, gives us pleasure. Undoubtedly also its first-class value. SUPERIORE.DE

"Just as it did over the summer, the 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota continues to impress. Bold and ample on the palate, with terrific fruit density, the 2015 offers a heady concoction of dark cherry, plum, licorice, smoke, spice and leather that flesh out in the glass. This is a terrific showing for the Muncagota." Vinous

"The Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota shows beautifully in this sunny and warm vintage, producing intense and compelling primary fruit with wild cherry, plum and black currant. Compared to the other Riservas, the fruit profile of Muncagota is darker and richer. More significant is the role the tannins play in this wine. They contribute to a long and firm spinal cord that gives structure and muscle mass. This Barbaresco Riserva shows an affinity to shaved truffles over egg pasta, or gamey fowl such as duck or pigeon." Robert Parker

"Rose, red berry and star anise aromas align with earthy whiffs of forest floor and new leather. The full-bodied, delicious palate doles out succulent Morello cherry, black raspberry, licorice and chopped mint set against a backbone of firm but refined tannins. It's already gorgeous but will be even better with just a few more years of bottle age." Wine Enthusiast

This cru from the Pajé vineyard in the heart of the Barbaresco region has a mineral aroma and fruity taste. The bouquet exudes notes of sour cherries, tobacco and toasted farmhouse bread, with an unbelievably deep and elegant draught, along with a sumptuous ripe fruit in perfect harmony with the tannins. Already a classic today! SUPERIORE.DE

"This is a small vineyard close to the village of Barbaresco, and its limestone-dominant soils usually give wines that are bright and floral - this wine meets that expectation. The nose shows intensity and purity, with piercing red fruit aromas. It's supple on the attack, bright but weighty, and very concentrated. Lively acidity gives the finish tension and persistence. Elegant and long." Decanter

"The Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè shows a heavier center of gravity (compared to the Pora) with thicker concentration of dark fruit at the middle. The jump is not big, but it is noticeable, like one step up a ladder. This wine produces more ferrous earth and iron ore with plenty of dark fruit. The mouthfeel is less complicated and shorter too in this vintage, although the tannins feel firm and prominent." Robert Parker

"The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè is starting to shut down in bottle, but the signatures are still very much present, namely acidity and structure that give depth while also providing terrific balance to the generosity of the year." Vinous

"Violet, new leather, perfumed berry and a whiff of face powder mingle together with camphor on this fragrant red. On the structured, polished palate, taut, refined tannins support succulent Morello cherry, mulberry and licorice. It's already tempting, but hold for even more complexity." Wine Enthusiast