Sydney Wine Dinner Produttori del Barbaresco “Cru” MUSEUM OFFER
Thanks so much for joining me to celebrate our first wine dinner and the world of Barbaresco (Peter’s Birthday too). Call me if you need any help 0437 941 963.
What a triumph! Seeing a row of wines of this calibre and age across four of Barbaresco’s great Cru’s is a rare event. From youthful and vibrant to mature and ready to drink, feminine and supple to bold and masculine, one thing remained true for all of the wines, they were loaded with personality and intrigue. The choice was one of which one was better rather than which one worse.
For me the 05 Asili was such a beautiful feminine expressive wine. The 09 Rabajà such a complete wine with that rare combination of restraint and an intense core of fruit. Flip a coin with the Montefico’s, both bold, rich wines, with powerful tannins softened by the fat of the Wagyu Skirt steak.
The 09 Rabajà such a complete wine with that rare combination of restraint and an intense core of fruit. Flip a coin with the Montefico’s, both bold, rich wines, with powerful tannins softened by the fat of the Wagyu Skirt steak.
Flip a coin with the Montefico’s, both bold, rich wines, with powerful tannins softened by the fat of the Wagyu Skirt steak.
The Ovello’s were a Barbaresco masterclass in themselves. The only 04 in the mix showed the class of the year, with ripe tannin balanced with a lovely line of acid. The 05 seamless and beautifully integrated. It will be fascinating to watch the pair evolve over the next decade. The 09 Ovello showing the edge of ripe, slightly jammy fruit that was present in the 09 Asili. The 09 Rabajà and 09 Montefico held onto their fresh vibrant fruit highlighting the difference site and perhaps picking time can make!
All the background to Produttori Babaresco, Nebbiolo, and, Barbaresco is with the wine wine reviews below the order form.
About Produttori
Straight from the cellars of Prodottori del Barbaresco we have several of their Cru’s, mature and ready to go. In advance of the 2013 Cru release in February 2018, we have these gems available for your drinking pleasure today!
The wines of Produttori del Barbaresco were my first introduction to Barbaresco. The good bit was being introduced to a producer that is now a staple in my cellar. The bad bit was all of the lesser Barbaresco I tried after that. They had set the bar high!
Barbaresco is often considered the poor cousin to Barolo. That it certainly is not! The benefit for us is the marketing hype around Barolo which is often deserved and sometimes not help keep prices of Barbaresco reasonable. Prodottori produces what are undoubtedly some of the best value Barbarescos available today.
My 1st meeting with Aldo
Aldo Vacca has deftly brought the Produttori del Barbaresco into modern times while making subtle changes to farming and winemaking yet maintaining the traditional style that has made this coop so adored by its rabidly loyal fan base. The changes at Produttori have been gradual to the degree they aren’t always so noticeable, but they are there. No one knows every nook and cranny of Barbaresco better than Aldo Vacca, but Vacca has also proven to be incredibly wise in making choices that have positioned the Produttori for much continued success in the future. I can’t think of too many wines that deliver this much pleasure and value. Antonio Galloni
A bit about Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo is an incredibly challenging grape variety to grow, make, and, as a consumer, sometimes, to drink and understand.
The name incorporates ‘Nebbia’ or cloud. Driving the vineyard clad hills of Barolo or Barbaresco in Piemonte (at the foot of the mountain), you’ll often find yourself immersed in clouds! A function of the topography and the region being surround by mountains on three sides.
Nebbiolo wines tend to focus more on what we call secondary characters, earthy, truffles, violets, woody herbs, tar. The texture / mouthfeel is a hallmark of Nebbiolo. They can be extremely tannic demanding rich food to balance them, and time in the bottle to soften. No matter the quantity of tannin, the best Nebbiolo wines will always have incredible quality, depth and length of tannin.
The bunches and berries are much larger than most of the French varieties. The colour of Nebbiolo wines can range from deep and dark to rusty tap water! Yet, a pale colour is often no indicator of the depth of flavour or quality of the wine.
A bit about Barbaresco
The area of Barbaresco is only 10min from Barolo, the difference in soil and weather can mean one may have a great year whilst the other is average.
Barbaresco DOCG regulations allow for wine to be released a year earlier than Barolo. Angelo Gaja, perhaps the most famed producer of Barbaresco, has largely chosen to ignore DOCG regulation in the pursuit of excellence. There is perhaps a question over whether marketing or tending of the vineyards and wines is the reason behind their cult status.
Whilst Gaja has been in the limelight wineries like Roagna and Produttori del Barbaresco have been quietly going about the business of making some of the best value Nebbiolo’s available today.
There is no doubt that the great Barbaresco’s are every bit as good as the great Barolo’s.
As a generalisation Barbaresco tends to be less tannic and more approachable as younger wines.
Larmandier-Bernier was one of the first grower Champagnes to make a mark in Australia. Everyone had been used to hyped up, over market crap from big houses. These guys sent a ripple through the market that became a shock wave of yumminess! 100% Chardonnay Longtitude is the more elegant of the two in comparison with Latitude.
Poised
Deceptively sophisticated, the depth of fruit is beautifully counterpointed with stunning mineral acid & layers of flavour!
Produttori del Barbaresco, Asili, Barbaresco Riserva 2005
This spectacular vineyard has created in the past some of the greatest Barbaresco and it has a strong following all over the world. The main part of the Asili vineyard is a protected bowl facing South/West, next to Pora, but farther away from the river and the valley influence, with warmer and less breezy microclimate during most of the summer. To the East, Asili ends with a bricco, top of the hill, also facing South/West and with a similar soil composition, bordering Rabajà. The wine is intense, certainly not a full bodied Barbaresco, but nevertheless showing a very imposing personality. Usually quite closed in its youth it opens up slowly with impeccable complexity and style; a classic Barbaresco, and also one of the most distinctive vineyards of the region. First produced as a single vineyard in 1967.
Vineyard size: 2.28 ha Exposure: South West Elevation: 230 – 290 metres.
93/100 Points
“The 2005 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is sweet, sensual and perfumed. For now, the wine remains extremely reticent, but the tannins show extraordinary purity and silkiness, suggesting the only thing missing is time. The 2005 Asili shows great integrity in its dark red fruit, with notable persistence on the palate and a round, powerful close.”
Feminine
The most elegant and feminine of the 4 Cru's devoured on the night. Developing lovely secondary characters, openned beautifully over the course of drinking. Supple and refined.
Produttori del Barbaresco, Asili, Barbaresco Riserva 2009
92/100 Points
“The 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Asili blossoms on the palate with lovely depth and richness. The fine Asili tannins are there, as the fruit shows its depth and roundness. The style is soft, supple and generous. The suave Asili personality comes through, but the pure excitement of the best vintages proves to be elusive. A generous, caressing finish rounds things out nicely.”
Plush
Retaining Asili's hallmark femininity. Plush almost Pinot-esque tannins. You can see some riper fruit characters from a warmer year. The 07 I consumed recently sat in the middle of the 2005 and 2009 in style.
Produttori del Barbaresco, Rabajà, Barbaresco Riserva 2005
Rabajà is often considered as potentially the greatest Barbaresco site of all: a long, sinuous ridge line which begins with a roasted amphitheatre above Martinenga, limestone percentages in the marly soils vary here to great effect. This is the historic part of the Rabaja’ subzone. It is south-west facing overall. Rabaja’ is one of the best-known and most celebrated vineyards in Barbaresco, so much so, that, Bruno Giacosa recently bought a parcel, release 2013 as the 1st vintage.
Rabajà produces a quintessential Barbaresco, one of the most complete and balanced of the single vineyards. The vineyard lays at the conjunction of the two main ridges that form the Barbaresco village, one starting at Rabajà and going West towards the Tanaro River (with progressively less calcium and higher fertility in the soil) and the other one that goes from Rabajà to Ovello, South to North (with higher calcium content in the soil).
The meeting of these two different soils give to Rabajà its incredible complexity. Bordering both Asili and Muncagota it combines the personality of those two great vineyards with and extra richness due to the South/West warm exposure. First produced as a single vineyard in 1971.
Vineyard size: 3.7 ha Exposure: South West Elevation: 240 – 300 metres Vineyard
94 Points
The 2005 Barbaresco Riserva Rabaja reveals gorgeous inner perfume in a powerful, structured style. This is a big, hulking Barbaresco, but its potential is evident, as the wine’s balance is impeccable. Still, readers will have to exercise considerable patience here. I have seldom been disappointed by older bottles of the Rabaja and expect the 2005 will turn out to be another fine vintage for this bottling as well.
Vibrant
Building in structure compared with the Asili, there is a vibrancy, and purity of acid across the board with the 2005 from Produttori. The Rabajà has an impressive core of fruit and a real presence about it.
Produttori del Barbaresco, Rabajà, Barbaresco Riserva 2009
94+/100 Points
Dark cherries, menthol, cloves, cinnamon and leather wrap around the palate in the 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà. A rich, layered, enveloping wine, the Rabajà is a wine that shows plenty of character and personality. Deep, implosive and full of personality, the Rabajà is another wine that delivers tons of character, class and personality.
Intense
Rich, long core of fruit with supple tannins, this is a cracking Rabajà, made with great skill. Packed with personality, the layers of complexity are incredibly inviting. Just starting to head into the drinking window (tasted 2017) it's still got years ahead of it. Pure & delicious!
Produttori del Barbaresco, Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva 2005
A not widely known vineyard, yet highly sought after by the Barbaresco aficionados. It is often compared to the slightly larger and more famous Montestefano vineyard because of the similar soil (high calcium) and close proximity between the two. It lays half way between the Montestefano and the Ovello. Exposure is full South, therefore quite warm, but it is not unusual for Montefico to have brisk morning hours during the growing season because of the cooler northern wind that occasionally funnels in from the Tanaro River and into the narrow valley between the villages of Barbaresco and Neive. Austere when young and somehow less fleshy than Montestefano, it shows a beautiful mineral finish. It produces wines with the breed of any classic Barbaresco and with incredible complexity behind the tannins. First vintage released was 1970.
Vineyard size: 3.86 ha Exposure: Sud / Sud-Est Elevation: 230 – 260 metres
93/100 Points
“The 2005 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is simply beautiful in the way it combines elements of florality and structure, which makes it one of the more complex, multi-faceted wines in 2005. Sweet roses blossom on the palate, followed by succulent ripe raspberries, mint and baking spices. As the wine sits in the glass the layers continue to fill out, revealing a wine of first-class pedigree. This is an exceptional effort from the Produttori!”
Power
Where the Rabajà built on a base of dark fruits. Montefico had fresher red fruits of amazing intensity. The additional build in structure married Wagyu fat beautifully, showing the importance of drinking these wines as intended, with food. Lovely truffly, earthy characters from a little extra time in bottle adding intrigue. 2025-2035
Produttori del Barbaresco, Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva 2007
93/100 Points
“The 2007 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is all about energy and sheer power. The Montefico is quite virile, even in this vintage, with a certain austerity in the tannin that will require time in bottle to soften. Dark red fruit, leather, anise and spices are some of the notes that wrap around the insistent, pointed finish. There is plenty of nuance here, but not the early appeal of the year. This is a great showing, but readers will need to be patient.”
Savoury
Building in intensity the 2007 Montefico shows riper tannins. A very savoury wine. Again with lovely secondary characters, full and oppulent.
Produttori del Barbaresco, Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva 2004
Ovello is the northernmost vineyard in the village of Barbaresco, higher in elevation and dropping down in an abrupt 90 metres from a bluff. Ovello combines the best qualities of Montefico and Montestefano. Historically, Ovello was named after a winery that used to be called ‘Aloello’. It is a relatively large area with a number of subzones with West and East exposure, all sharing a similar calcareous soils rich in clay. The higher percentage of clay and the cooler microclimate give the Ovello its exuberant and youthful quality in the fruit and its fuller body, which defines its distinctive personality. Explosive fruit on the palate and firm, sometimes rough tannins on the finish, these wines always bring a lot of joy to the palate and deliver powerful structure that needs some years of bottle ageing to balance out. Domizio Cavazza had vineyards in Ovello (and Pora) when he started producing Barbaresco in 1894. It was also among the first 5 vineyards produced as single vineyard by Produttori in 1967. Fruit from Ovello also commands the largest percentage in the Barbaresco classic wine.
Vineyard size: 20.3 ha Exposure: South West and South East Elevation: 250 – 320 metres
93 Points
The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is deep, dense and incredibly primary. Although the wine clearly possesses remarkable stuffing, there is very little tertiary development here. With air, suggestions of menthol, pine, spices and licorice gradually emerge, but this remains a wine in need of serious bottle age. Lingering notes of sweetness resonate on the long finish. This austere, but beautiful Barbaresco is destined to develop beautifully in bottle and should offer glorious drinking down the road.
Balance
The class of 2004 shone through in the Ovello. Great balance of tannin, fruit, and, with a fresh edge of acid. Long fruit lingers long after the last drop passes your tongue.
Produttori del Barbaresco, Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva 2005
92+/100 Points
“The 2005 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is usually one of the more reticent of the estate’s Riservas, but in 2005 it is especially unyielding. Still firm and tightly wound, the wine possesses notable detail and clarity in its fruit in a focused, compact style. Based on previous experience, I may very well be underestimating this wine, but only time will tell for sure. After several hours the Ovello opened up nicely and my impression is it will develop into a splendid Barbaresco with time.”
Seamless
Big tannins seamlessly integrate with lovely fruit and vibrant acid. Bags of personality with a savoury edge and earthy secondary characters.
Produttori del Barbaresco, Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva 2009
93/100 Points
“The 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is one of the more detailed, vibrant wines in this range. Sweet dark red cherries, mint, pine, graphite and crushed flowers all take shape in the glass. The typical high-toned Ovello bouquet, slightly firm tannins and energy are all there, making this one of the more site-specific of the 2009 Riservas. In 2009, the Ovello is a bit more accessible than it usually is, even if I don’t quite find the visceral thrill of the very best years.”
Masculine
Riper, perhaps an edge jammy as shown in the 2009 Asili. Beautiful tannins. A big masculine wine.
Place Your Order
This offer has expired, wines are subject to availability. We'll do our best to satisfy your tastebuds.
Larmandier-Bernier was one of the first grower Champagnes to make a mark in Australia. Everyone had been used to hyped up, over market crap from big houses. These guys sent a ripple through the market that became a shock wave of yumminess! 100% Chardonnay Longtitude is the more elegant of the two in comparison with Latitude.
This spectacular vineyard has created in the past some of the greatest Barbaresco and it has a strong following all over the world. The main part of the Asili vineyard is a protected bowl facing South/West, next to Pora, but farther away from the river and the valley influence, with warmer and less breezy microclimate during most of the summer. To the East, Asili ends with a bricco, top of the hill, also facing South/West and with a similar soil composition, bordering Rabajà. The wine is intense, certainly not a full bodied Barbaresco, but nevertheless showing a very imposing personality. Usually quite closed in its youth it opens up slowly with impeccable complexity and style; a classic Barbaresco, and also one of the most distinctive vineyards of the region. First produced as a single vineyard in 1967.
Rabajà is often considered as potentially the greatest Barbaresco site of all: a long, sinuous ridge line which begins with a roasted amphitheatre above Martinenga, limestone percentages in the marly soils vary here to great effect. This is the historic part of the Rabaja’ subzone. It is south-west facing overall. Rabaja’ is one of the best-known and most celebrated vineyards in Barbaresco, so much so, that, Bruno Giacosa recently bought a parcel, release 2013 as the 1st vintage.
Ovello is the northernmost vineyard in the village of Barbaresco, higher in elevation and dropping down in an abrupt 90 metres from a bluff. Ovello combines the best qualities of Montefico and Montestefano. Historically, Ovello was named after a winery that used to be called ‘Aloello’. It is a relatively large area with a number of subzones with West and East exposure, all sharing a similar calcareous soils rich in clay. The higher percentage of clay and the cooler microclimate give the Ovello its exuberant and youthful quality in the fruit and its fuller body, which defines its distinctive personality. Explosive fruit on the palate and firm, sometimes rough tannins on the finish, these wines always bring a lot of joy to the palate and deliver powerful structure that needs some years of bottle ageing to balance out. Domizio Cavazza had vineyards in Ovello (and Pora) when he started producing Barbaresco in 1894. It was also among the first 5 vineyards produced as single vineyard by Produttori in 1967. Fruit from Ovello also commands the largest percentage in the Barbaresco classic wine.
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