Barbaresco Ovello Riserva DOCG 2021

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

05132321 · 0,75 l · 76,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

Domizio Cavazza had vineyards in Ovello. When he founded the first Cantine Sociale in Barbaresco in 1894, Ovello was already part of his plan – one of the oldest and most original vineyards in this appellation. Today, with over twenty hectares, Ovello is by far the largest of the nine Produttori del Barbaresco sites and is located at the northernmost point of the municipal area, where the hill has various exposures – west-south-west and east-south-east – on a soil that is both calcareous and rich in clay. The clay is more present here than elsewhere in Barbaresco, and it gives the wine its typical opulence: plump fruit, full body, firm tannins. The Produttori del Barbaresco also vinify Ovello according to the same principle that has been maintained for decades: 28 days of maceration, at least thirty months in large Slavonian barrels, a further year in the bottle. The Riserve are bottled exclusively in exceptional vintages – and 2021 leaves no doubt about that.

The April frost also hit Ovello, reducing the harvest and concentrating the grapes; the harvest only began after 8 October under excellent conditions. The result is a wine with considerable pulling power. Orange peel, mint, white pepper, chalk – all on a tannin framework that is taut and firm yet lively. Not a gentle entry, but a long, great finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Restrained if not austere, showing dark fruit, earthy tones and cherries with almost wild blackberries and a whiff of blood oranges. Full-bodied. The attack is dense and velvety with thick, firm tannins that are dusty yet ripe. Powerful but well-balanced at the end, with a mouth-coating texture." James Suckling

"This historic cooperative puts out an exceptional set of cellarworthy Riserva in 2021. If there isn’t space for all nine, it’s simply a matter of selecting according to personal taste. Robust in fruit and powerfully structured, Ovello is equally brooding in personality. Hints of liquorice, heady dark rose and camphor slowly take shape. Layered, concentrated and fleshy, it floods the palate with a bold stride. Dense tannins keep pace, hemming it in effortlessly, and blood orange and tart redcurrants lend lip-smacking dimension." Decanter

"Bright and expressive, this red offers black cherry, blackberry and violet flavors, plus a flash of licorice. Mineral and tobacco elements chime in as this builds through the midpalate to the long, energetic finish. Complex and balanced, but give this a few years." Wine Spectator

"The 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello sizzles with tension right out of the gate. Orange peel, mint, chalk, white pepper and crushed rocks are all finely sketched. Bright and sinewy to the core, the 2021 captures the purest essence of Ovello. It's another stellar wine in this range. The Ovello will appeal most to readers who like tense wines." Vinous