Produttori del Barbaresco 2020
Produttori del Barbaresco 2020
95WA / 92VM / 93JD
The 2020 Barbaresco boasts an ample set of aromas with wild cherry, blue flower, sweet spice and crushed limestone. As always, the wine paints an exciting and authentic portrait of Nebbiolo, albeit with a little more richness and texture in this vintage. This is especially true in terms of the palate, where the wine offers mid-weight intensity with melting tannins. This ambitious release of 300,000 bottles is slated to hit the market in fall 2023.
93 pts Kerin O'Keefe
The straight 2020 Barbaresco from Produttori impresses with its poise and presence, starting with heady aromas of camphor, dog rose, orange zest and spice. Full-bodied, smooth and structured, the savory palate features ripe raspberry, blood orange, white pepper and a hint of tobacco alongside taut, polished tannins. Drink: 2026–2032. Abv: 14.5%. (Jan 2024)
92 pts, Galloni, Vinous
The 2020 Barbaresco is a lovely, harmonious wine that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Forward fruit and soft curves are perhaps a bit uncharacteristic for young Barbaresco but that also make the wine very enjoyable. Juicy red cherry/plum fruit, rose petal, spice, cedar, mint and tobacco all meld together in the glass. Classicists will probably prefer other vintages, but it's hard not to like the 2020 for its charming, effusive personality. At the same time, aeration brings out greater aromatic presence and a good deal of structure, too.
There’s a lot to explore in these new releases from Produttori del Barbaresco. The 2019 Riservas show a good amount of vineyard definition, but they are also marked by a strong, somber, brooding quality. “Weather was up and down during the last phase of ripening,” Managing Director Aldo Vacca explained. “We had one good week of weather, but then conditions would deteriorate before improving again. This required us to be especially selective, so production for the crus is down about 20%.” In vintages like 2019 that are hard to read, I typically revisit the Riservas once they have had more time in bottle, which I expect to do this year. I imagine the 2019s will require a measure of patience. In the meantime, the 2020 Barbaresco will give readers a very good idea of the style of that year.
Vineyard: various vineyards in the DOCG Barbaresco
Vineyards size: grapes selected from 100 hectares (250 acres) of estate owned vineyards
Vineyard exposure: south, west, east
Soil: limestone and clay, rich in calcium with sandy veins
Vinification: stainless steel tanks, 30 days on the skin at 28°c (80°f). Pumping over 2-3 times a day
Aging: 24 months in large oak casks
