Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva DOCG 2021

Produttori del Barbaresco | Piedmont
Produttori del Barbaresco s.a.c. | Via Torino 54 | IT 12050 Barbaresco

05132821 · 0,75 l · 89,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately
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You have to earn that nickname. They call the Montestefano the "Barolo of Barbaresco" – and anyone who's tasted a good vintage will understand why. The vineyard is situated just a few metres from Montefico; it shares its southern exposure and calcareous subsoil, but is significantly steeper. Excellent drainage, harvest late harvest, and a warmer microclimate thanks to protection from north winds: these are the conditions under which the Nebbiolo reaches maximum ripeness here – an almost smoky depth, full of power. The Produttori del Barbaresco have been vinifying Montestefano as a single-vineyard wine since 1974; the winemaking process has remained unchanged for decades: 28 days' maceration at 30 degrees, followed by at least thirty months in large Slavonian oak barrels.

In 2021, Montestefano reveals its darkest, most intense character. The April frost reduced the grape yield to a minimum; what remained ripened deeply and slowly, with the harvest not beginning until mid-October. In the glass, this is a wine of a heavy, effervescent character: leather, menthol, dark stone fruit, spices – all encased in a framework of tannins that requires time, but promises decades of ageing. The final is long and resonant, like a final note that lingers in the room. Some wines demand patience; this one positively demands it. SUPERIORE.DE

"One of the bottles in this lineup that falls on the darker and bolder side of the spectrum, the Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is layered and rich with dark fruit, dried cherry and blackberry framed by light spice and dark mineral notes. This is not the first time that I have found Montestefano to be the ripest wine in the series, and the 2021 vintage again reveals hints of dried plum and fig that underscore that trend. Sourced from four hectares of limestone-clay soils, the wine shows big concentration and fruit weight. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in large oak botti." Wine Advocate

"The warm, sunny slope lends the wine a richness and ripeness that are well reflected in the 2021 vintage. Intoxicating aromas of cinnamon, cloves, preserved cherries and potting soil herald a full-bodied wine that is almost overwhelming at first. It seems to relax as the concentrated acidity clashes with the jam-like, wild blackberries, but don't be fooled – the firm, iron-like tannins are firmly in place. It's best to leave it to rest for a few more years." Decanter

"On the nose, it is youthful, with bright, lively aromas of red and dark fruits, a leafy lightness, wild strawberries and black cherries, with a hint of blood orange and an earthy, chocolatey depth. On the palate, it is wonderfully full-bodied, structured and rich in extract, with firm, velvety tannins and taut acidity that leads to a balanced, endless finish with notes of liquorice." James Suckling

"Blackcurrants, blackberries, violets, tobacco and sweet spices characterise this smooth, fruity red wine. Opulent for its vintage and well-structured, with a long, resonant finish that reflects the fruit and adds hints of iron and minerality. Excellent length." Wine Spectator

"The Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano 2021 is a dense, full-bodied wine. Powerful and dense to the core, the Montestefano is a grand, broad-shouldered wine that will need a few years to reach its full potential. Dark fruits, new leather, spices, menthol – all these elements are amplified in this robust Barbaresco." Vinous