Raudonasis sausas
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.
Lovely barbaresco, with all the typical nebbiolo characteristics, such as red berries, mushrooms and dried leaves, as well as hints of bitter orange peel and spice. All this follows through to the medium-to full-bodied palate, where fine, lightly firm tannins add a little grip and additional focus. Compact, but bursting with flavor. Delicious now, but give it a year or two. It will only get better.
Produttori del Barbaresco, founded in 1958, now has 51 members and controls more than 100 hectares of premium Nebbiolo vineyards in Barbaresco. Each family is in full control of its land, growing Nebbiolo grapes with centuries old skill and dedication. The vinery produces a Barbaresco DOCG, a blend of Nebbiolo grapes harvested from different vineyards, and a simpler Nebbiolo Langhe suited for earlier consumption. In great vintages, nine single-vineyard Barbarescos are produced from nine classic premium sites within the Barbaresco village boundaries: Asili, Rabajà, Pora, Montestefano, Ovello, Pajè, Montefico, Muncagota, and Rio Sordo. These are the geographical names of sites where Nebbiolo grapes have always been cultivated. The name of the single-vineyards, the total number of bottles produced, and the name of the owners of the vineyards are marked on the labels. Produttori del Barbaresco, which vinifies only Nebbiolo grapes, produce around 550 000 bottles per year. In a good vintage they are divided among Barbaresco (50%), single vineyard Barbarescos (30%) and Nebbiolo Langhe (20%).