Barbaresco Pajè Riserva DOCG 2021

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

05132421 · 0,75 l · 84,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

The vineyard covers just under two hectares. Pajè is the smallest of all nine vineyards belonging to the Produttori del Barbaresco – and yet, or perhaps precisely because of this, it bears one of the most distinctive characteristics of the entire range: a freshness that never fades. The vineyard lies to the south-west of the village, slightly lower than its higher-lying neighbours and more open towards the Tanaro. The influence of the river gives it a cooler microclimate; the soil is rich in limestone with veins of sand that provide good drainage. In cooler vintages, a subtle hint of mint emerges, a characteristic rarely found elsewhere in Barbaresco. First produced in 1967 – at that time as a special label for the "Cavalieri del Tartufo" – it has been part of the regular range since 1982. The winemaking process follows the cooperative's basic principles: 28 days' contact with the must, thirty months or more in large wooden casks, and one year in the bottle.

2021 pushed Pajè to its limits – and thus to its true self. The April frost decimated this plot too; the harvest was small, but the grapes were fully ripe. The result is not a soft, early-drinking Pajè, but one that demonstrates the potential of this vineyard under extreme conditions: dark spicy tones, balsamic notes, intense fruit, and a tannin structure that feels like a broadside – and which only opens up with age. A Pajè for collectors and for those with patience; for that great moment when everything falls into place. SUPERIORE.DE

"From a two-hectare site rooted in limestone soils, the Barbaresco Riserva Pajè reveals pretty blue fruit nuances followed by an earthy-mineral side marked by iris root, violet and a distinctive hint of rusty nail. The themes here are primarily floral and mineral, with the vineyard's natural finesse emerging clearly through the wine's layered aromatic profile. In this exceptional vintage, the intensity and elegance are elevated another notch. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in large oak botti." Wine Advocate

"Aromas of mint and menthol characterise this opulent red wine, whose fruit notes of black cherries and blackberries permeate its fleshy texture. These are complemented by notes of tar, iron and wild thyme, which are supported on the finish by a series of dense tannins. Well-balanced, but will still need time to integrate." Wine Spectator

"The Barbaresco Riserva Pajè 2021 is a deep, dense wine. Powerful spicy and balsamic notes envelop a core of dark fruit. The Pajè is a brooding, dense powerhouse that still needs a few more years to reveal its full potential. Time in the glass brings out the wine's complex, dynamic personality and its full range of character." Vinous

"On the nose, this complex red wine displays astonishing depth, with notes of dried violets and roses, heady balsamic, strawberries, cherries and an unmistakable leafy lightness with a hint of mint. Elegant on the palate, with ripe, velvety and tightly woven tannins. Rich in extract and flavourful, with refreshing acidity, stony minerality and liquorice in the very long, multi-layered finish. It will age for decades." James Suckling