Nebbiolo Wine

Winemaker Descripption

Classic Barbaresco color with scents of spices, pepper and black cherries. Powerful, firm, elegant and ethereal.

Pair with fresh pasta, meat dishes, particularly lamb and feathered game and mild cheeses.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Monica Lerner writes:  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.  Drinking 2025 to 2045.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95

Antonio Galloni writes:  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.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Vinous 92

Aldo Fiordelli writes:  Still vinous, with youthful strawberry notes, rosebud, violet, liquorice and a whiff of cinnamon. Savoury and floral on the palate which is dominated by firm, crisp, long acidity and velvety ripe tannins of an amazing quality; perhaps just a bit stern on the aftertaste. Amazing Barbaresco. Here we have the cooperative of Barbaresco and one known as producing some of the best-priced quality wines in all of Langhe. This will not be released before October 2023.  Drinking 2023 to 2040.  - Decanter 94

Audrey Frick writes:  Ripe red in color, the 2020 Barbaresco boasts a nice balance of purity and ripeness, with lifted spice notes of dried cherries, peppercorn, pine, and anise. An impressive Barbaresco, it’s medium-bodied and offer sanguine richness and yet has a weightless feel. It’s propelled forward through the palate, with bright orange peel notes, vibrant acidity, fine tannins, and a long finish. It has more richness in this vintage as well as having a lot of finesse and elegance to offer. It’s an exceptional entry Barbaresco.  Drinking 2026 to 2040.  - Jeb Dunnuck 93

Jancis Robinson writes:  Rich, sweet nose. Very slightly animal and soft tannins. Juicy!  Drinking 2023 to 2031.  - Jancis Robinson 16.5 

Winemaker Description 

This area bears a name that immediately evokes the main character of the terroir: heat. Rocky outcrops increase temperatures by reflecting the sun's rays during the day and releasing heat at night. The steep slope allows the sun's rays to strike the ground perpendicularly, thus increasing the solar radiation. A good amount of soil allows the Nebbiolo to mature in terms of sugar content, but above all in terms of polyphenols.

Ruby red hue tending to garnet; pronounced, layered nose with top notes of cherry, ripe plum and sweet spice (cinnamon and cloves) and a tinge of sulphur; dry, mineral and austere but harmonious on the palate, with an elegant slightly bitter finish of roasted hazelnut. Serve with roasted red meats, lamb, game, and mature cheeses.

Winemaker Description

With a dark garnet-red color, the wine shows distinctive, fine aromas of small fruits, raspberry preserves, roses and violets, with an herbal note. In the mouth, the wine has full, lively tart fruit flavors, elegant tannins and a lingering aftertaste, with traces of prunes and toasty oak. 

Winemaker Description

Medium-bodied wine with aromas of juicy, red cherries, wildflowers, a hint of menthol, and spice. Well-balanced with fine-grained tannins. Food Pairings: Pairs well with grilled or braised meats. 

Winemaker Description

Barolo Berri comes from a vineyard at the extreme west border of the Barolo area, with an altitude between 370 and 430 mts asl (1200 -1400 ft). Our Barolo Berri doesn’t want to stand out for complexity or longevity, but for drinkability and immediacy, due to its inner fruit profile, sweet ripeness and freshness. Like any Barolo, it is certainly suitable for long ageing but, in our opinion, this wine can be consumed right after the release with extreme pleasure. 

Expert Reviews 

96 Points Vinous | Nicola and Stefania Oberto may very well put Berri on the map with their 2020 Barolo Berri. What a wine. Deep, soaring and wonderfully expressive, the 2020 is stunning in its beauty. Dark red/purplish fruit, orange peel, cinnamon, rose petal and lavender are all amplified in a vertical, soaring Barolo of magnificent intensity. Silky, polished tannins round things out in style. The 2020 is pure and sensual to the core - a total pleasure bomb. (2020).

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck | There is already a wonderful balance in the 2020 Barolo Berri, with both vertical drive and rounded fruits, including red berries and spiced red plums. It has ripe tannins and a generous feel, with a spine of fresh acidity raising it to another level. Drink 2026-2040.

92 Points James Suckling | Fresh and brambly nose with red berries, white pepper, stones and hibiscus. Medium body on the palate with tight, chalky tannins and an elegant, firm finish. Drink or hold. (2020).

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Jeff Porter of the Wine Enthusiast writes 91 Points | Roasted cherries, warmed clove and star anise aromas waft from the glass as dried floral hints and wild thyme rise as the wine opens. Mouthfilling with loads of mixed wild berries fresh, dried and preserved all combined with oak spice finishing with subtle earth and superfine tannins. Drink now–2040. 

Bruce Sanderson of the Wine Spectator writes 91 Points | A dense, compact red marked by plum, cherry, leather, forest floor and tar aromas and flavors. Well-balanced and lingers on the finish, where chalky tannins leave their impression. Best from 2027 through 2042. 

Winemaker Description

The 2019 Bernardot is dark and austere with wonderful nuances of ripe red fruit. Tannins are very silky and delicate in this 2019, showing a lot of finesse, typical from the Barbaresco area. It’s an elegant and very expressive Barbaresco. One of the favorite vineyards of winemaker Alessandro Ceretto.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate Monica Larner 95 Points writes | The organic Ceretto 2019 Barbaresco Bernadot shows a broader character and a more open-knit personality compared to the Asili. There is a lot of dark fruit, spice, truffle and earth to frame the medium-build of this elegant wine.  (2019).

Wine Spectator 94 Points | A bright red, delivering a core of cherry and raspberry fruit supported by earth, mineral and wild herbs. Intense, complex and dense, this is solidly built and persists with an aftertaste of dark fruit, mineral and spice. Best from 2025. (2019).

Michaela Morris of Decanter Magazine (93 Points) writes:  Evocatively scented with wild red berries and touches of vanillin and spice. An underlying dark earthiness pervades throughout. Fine tannins increase steadily across the palate, as does a richness of raspberry fruit. But all is in harmony. Hints of tea, then a huge hit of citrus lead to the savoury, mouth-cleansing finish. While rooted in the village of La Morra, the Oddero estate boasts impressive vineyard holdings throughout the entirety of the denomination, making for an impressive range of Barolo. The ‘classic’ bottling incorporates younger vines, mostly from sites in La Morra as well as Bricco Fiasco in Castiglione Falletto. Gorgeously approachable now but will keep evolving.  -

Antonio Galloni  of Vinous (92 Points) writes:  The 2021 Barolo is fabulous. Aromatic, pliant and wonderfully inviting. Oddero's Barolo shows just how appealing this vintage is. Crushed flowers, red/blue-toned fruit, spice and perfumed notes build nicely in the glass. Polished, silky tannins wrap it all together in style. Vineyard sources are Bricco Chiesa, Capalot, Bricco Fiasco and a bit of Galina.  

Expert Review - VIntage 2022

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 93 Points | A vivid but transparent red color, the 2022 Nebbiolo D'Alba Valmaggiore is bright with aromas of candied cranberries, cinnamon, dusty earth, and fresh roses. Coming from a single vineyard in Roero, the wine is medium-bodied and ripe but retains great freshness and vibrancy, with terrific structure and a long, rather notable finish. An impressive entry to the Nebbiolo range, it offers a lot of fresh purity and is surprisingly light on its feet for the vintage. Drink 2024-2034.

Kerin O`Keefe 92 Points | Sandrone’s Valmaggiore is always one of the best young Nebbiolos out there and the 2022 doesn’t disappoint. It offers intense aromas of ripe forest berry, dark spice and blue flower that on the palate transform into juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and ground clove. Polished tannins lend structure and finesse. Drink through 2027.

Expert Rating

Vinous Stephen Tanzer writes 93 Points | (from 63-year-old vines in the center of the vineyard; aged in a combination of old barriques and new larger casks) Sweet aromas of redcurrant, cherry, smoke and mint, all lifted by high notes of orange peel, rose petal and minerals. Concentrated, vibrant and gripping, with a silky quality and noteworthy precision to the flavors of red fruits, spices and minerals. Harmonious acidity gives a juicy, sappy quality and real elegance to this densely packed Barbaresco. Here the tannins are considerably finer than those of the normale, and the long, juicy, gripping finish leaves behind a captivating floral perfume. A beauty. 

This is from a massale selection, including a bit of the lighter, floral rose clone of nebbiolo while the rest of the vineyard features five different clones. 

Winemaker Description

The soils are of marine origin from the Tertiary era, characterized by bluish marl (at a depth ranging from 1 to 3 meters), calcareous, compact structure. The stratification is dense and varied, rich in mineral salts and natural springs.

Barbaresco Rio Sordo receives careful grape selection in the vineyard – 100% Nebbiolo. The immediately noticeable characteristics are the considerable complexity and depth, accompanied by elegance and finesse.

Expert Review

Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94+ Monica Larner | A release of about 3,000 bottles, the 2018 Barbaresco Rio Sordo shows the finesse and delicate fruit that is so well expressed by this estate. The bouquet is redolent of rose hip and crushed flowers, and you get cassis, wild cherry and dried pomegranate as well. There is a giant layer of minty herb, and then the wine finally relaxes with polished tones of crushed stone and white licorice. Cascina delle Rose makes a fine bottle of Barbaresco. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Audrey Frick of JebDunnuck.com writes 99 Points | The 2021 Barolo Acclivi marks the return of this cuvée after the 2020 crop was destroyed by hail. The nose is layered and complex with notes of clove spice, ripe red raspberry liqueur, blood orange, framboise, peppery spices, and pressed floral notes. The palate has lovely, refined concentration, ripe tannins, haunting notes of strawberries that last long on the finish, and notes of leather. While it has the fruit and freshness to drink now, it certainly has the structure to age. It’s one of the more contemplative wines in the range to enjoy over the coming decades.

Keron O'Keeffe  99 Points | Fragrant and loaded with finesse, the 2021 Acclivi is simply magnificent, starting with its beautiful scents of rose, forest berry, menthol, star anise and whiffs recalling sweetgrass. A blend of selected Nebbiolo from the estate’s best and oldest vineyards in Verduno, in the Monvigliero, Neirane, Rocche dell’Olmo and Boscatto sites, the chiseled, elegantly structured and delicious palate reflects the nose, delivering red cherry, raspberry, licorice and crushed mint accompanied by taut, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it well balanced and fuels even more intensity while a cinnamon note lingers on the finish. This is a captivating, extraordinary wine and the best Acclivi I have had to date.

Monica Larner of The Wine Advocate writes 97 Points | This wine was not produced in 2020. The Comm. G.B. Burlotto 2021 Barolo Acclivi is a blend of old-vine fruit from Monvigliero, Neirane and Rocche dell’Olmo, three MGA sites in the village of Verduno. I tasted this sample at two stages with 24 hours between them, and the change was impressive. The wine goes from feeling tight and almost squeaky to relaxed, fragrant and ethereal with aeration. The bouquet reveals layers of lilac, raspberry tart with custard and finely shaved pencil. Drink 2027-2055.

James Suckling writes 96 Points | A graceful Barolo that shows aromas of smoke, licorice, violets, delicate red currants and strawberries. It’s restrained and elegant on the palate, with a slight sweetness, a medium to full body, refreshing acidity and ripe, chewy tannins. Tight and savory. There is a huge structure that’s well covered by the fruit. Drinkable now, but best from 2026 or 2027.

Antonio Galloni of Vinous Media writes 94 Points | The 2021 Barolo Acclivi is a suave, sensual wine. All of this fruit is from vineyards in Verduno. That is very much evident in the wine's aromatic profile and overall weight. Blood orange, rose petal, mint, chalk and spice give the 2021 very pretty top notes. I admire the overall depth and brilliance here. This is a very serious Barolo. Drink 2026-2041.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Kerin O'Keefe writes 97 Points | The compelling 2020 Monvigliero from Paolo Scavino has intense aromas recalling blue flower, ripe berry, dried mint and new leather. Full-bodied and enveloping, it shows structure, concentration and elegance in the form of fleshy cherry, crushed strawberry, blood orange and licorice before closing on a mentholated note. Velvety tannins provide taut support and texture. It's utterly delicious.

James Suckling 96 Points | Harmonious, well-structure and layered. The nose shows aromas of wild strawberries, sour cherries, dried herbs, crushed stones and flowers. It's medium- to full-bodied with finely grained tannins, yet it is still firm at this stage supported by fresh acidity. Precise with a dense but juicy texture and harmonious structure. Long finish.

Wine Enthusiast 96 Points | Deep and mysterious, this Barolo initially presents a dark, brooding character that gradually reveals its true potential. Layers of ripe red cherries, juicy plums and blackberries emerge on the palate, accompanied by hints of licorice, tobacco and earthy truffle. Robust, well-structured tannins provide a firm backbone, promising a long and rewarding journey ahead. Patience will be richly rewarded.

"The Wine Spectator 94 Points | A darker expression of Barolo in 2020, featuring black cherry and black currant fruit, earth, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors. Dense and even slightly brooding, with burly tannins guarding the long finish. Less expressive than its peers at this stage yet promising.

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Coming from an esteemed site in Verduno, the 2020 Barolo Monvigliero is a dark ruby hue and opens to notes of ripe black raspberries, grenadine, candied roses, sweet soil, and fresh sage. Medium-bodied, it's rounded and approachable up front before revealing ripe tannins and a savory saline finish with notes of fresh orange. It is another impressive and highly refined wine from the Scavino family to drink over the coming 15-20 years.

Winemaker Description 

This Barolo comes from the stately Monvigliero vineyard, that can properly  be considered the “grand cru” of the village Verduno. This cru was first vinified in 2000 vintage and blended into generic Barolo until the 2007 vintage when this vineyard has been bought by the Scavino family and bottled as a single cru.
Great finesse and aromatic complexity, distinctly floral spicy, savory, balsamic in its expression. The nose is vivid and multilayered. The texture is precise. An extremely elegant cru, feminine and full of character.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com writes | The ruby-garnet colored 2017 Barolo has a classic textbook Nebbiolo bouquet, with perfumed aromas of earthy plums, violets, tar, leather, tobacco and balsamic spice. Medium bodied with multi-layered complexity and a sumptuous delicacy that brings about a sensuous mouthfeel. Good acidity and supple tannins bring harmony and balance to the lasting finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Monica Larner of The Wine Advocate 100 Points |  It's been a while, alas. The last vintage of this legendary wine was 2015. Skipping forward to a year of natural richness and concentration, the Giacomo Conterno 2019 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is a magnificently executed wine. It carefully reins in the soaring power of Nebbiolo and whittles it down to extreme finesse and precision. This is the essence of the grape with no extra bells or whistles. Roberto Conterno tells me he chose not to make Monfortino in 2016 because he considered 2015 to be a superior vintage. (There is an image problem with 2015, he concedes, because 2016 was more consistent overall than 2015; however, his experience with 2015 is better.) The 2017 vintage was a contender for Monfortino, but the wine was not made. The 2018 vintage also came close to production, but a lack of diurnal temperature shifts at the end of the growing season disqualified it, Roberto Conterno explains. His heart settled on 2019, a vintage that reminds him of the tension and energy found in 2013. However, the DNA of the 2019 vintage is slightly different because this edition sees 27% fruit blended from Arione. This site adds finesse and elegance. The rest of the blend represents a special selection from Francia, and that is where this wine gets its power and age-worthy tannins. The 2019 will be released in October 2025.

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 99 Points |  The 2019 Barolo Riserva Monfortino has closed down considerably since I last tasted it. Then again, the 2019 is a very serious Monfortino that includes the entirety of Conterno’s production from both Francia and Arione. Today, the tannins are pretty imposing, but modern Monfortinos have shown an ability to assimilate their tannin with much less time in bottle than was once required...Searing, powerful to the core, the 2019 is destined to thrill Monfortino lovers...Simply put, Conterno has very few peers when it comes to exceptionally high quality and consistency.

James Suckling 98 Points | A complex and deep wine that’s as graceful as it is powerful. Aromas of earth, strawberries, dried cherries, restrained orange peel, sweet dried violets, potpourri and licorice root. Full-bodied and concentrated, with graphite flavors and thick, dusty, muscular yet ripe tannins. Still youthful and vibrant, with refreshing acidity. More impressive on the palate than on the nose, suggesting it needs time to fully evolve. Available in October. Drink from 2026.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Antoni Galloni of Vinous writes | I was so impressed with these 2021s from Poderi e Cantine Oddero. I suppose I should not be surprised, given where the wines have been over the last handful of years, but at the same time, I can't forget the enormous strides the Oddero family has made over that period.

Winemaker Description 

Given Oddero's staggering 35 hectares worth of Nebbiolo di Barolo, the estate has historically sold off a portion of its production in bulk, reserving the best-exposed sites in the best spots for its Barolo “Tradizionale”. In exceptional vintages, however, they now bottle a second Barolo for us, mainly from parcels in La Morra.

They named it “Convento”—a nod to the fact that their estate was a convent in the early 17th c. It is vinified and aged just like their Barolo “Tradizionale”: natural fermentation in stainless steel with a 25-day maceration, followed by two years in large Slavonian-oak casks.

Convento emphasizes purity of fruit over structure, with a lifted mineral streak of lovely clarity. That said, it is still very much a traditional Barolo in the style of Oddero, bearing no trace of oak aromatics or wood tannins, and with a perfume simultaneously ethereal and savory.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 99 Points | The 2021 Barolo Francia is a vertical, explosive Barolo endowed with tons of energy. Bright acids and fine beams of tannin provide the framework for this striking young Barolo. All the elements are so well balanced. Time in the glass brings out an interplay of mineral-drenched energy, persistence and textural breadth. There's a lot of structure, and yet the tannins feel fine-grained and finessed. I especially admire its translucent energy. Magnificent.

Michaela Morris of Decanter Magazine writes 98 Points | As with 2020, Roberto Conterno made all three single-MGA wines in 2021: Cerretta, Arione and Francia. Bottled in May of 2024, the latter is subtlety demonstrative on the nose, albeit with some coaxing. Traces of pressed violet, pomegranate, iron and sage blossom are all detectable. The palate is appropriately taut and strict, though not in complete rigidity. Dark, pristine fruit is densely packed, intricately woven with the refined yet steely tannins which bend back around to the front of the palate, hemming it all in. Savoury, mineral and spicy on the finish. The estate will also release a 2021 Monfortino Riserva – though it is difficult to imagine how it will top this Francia.

Winemaker Description

Nebbiolo Reserve is produced entirely from grapes grown in the Valley of Tears, situated at an elevation of 1,060 meters above sea level (3,477ft.) being the highest and collest region in Israel.

The grapes were manually harvested at dawn. Teh wine features a shiny, emi-opaque red color and an aroma of autumn leaves, rose and earthiness.

It is medium to full bodied with flavors of Purple-Leaf Cherry Plum and cherries with a well-balanced high acidity and astringency. Odem Mountain Nebbiolo Reserve was aged for 18 months in French oak barrels.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points | The 2019 Barolo Acclivi is ripe with fresh raspberry, fresh sage, cinnamon, and wild roses. It takes on more depth and concentration and is long and elegant on the palate, with fine tannins and fresh notes of grenadine, dusty earth, and dried flowers. Long on the palate, cleansing and refined, with apricot and fresh citrus, this wine is drinking wonderfully at all its stages and is one of the more exceptional wines in the range for its balance. 

The Wine Advocate 97 Points | The Comm. G.B. Burlotto 2019 Barolo Acclivi is a selection of fruit from old vines in the best positions in Verduno. Specifically, it is a blend of fruit from Monvigliero, Neirane and Rocche dell’Olmo. The bouquet opens to elegant floral intensity with wild rose, violet, orange peel and delicate berry. This wine feels very alive thanks to the lifted and delicate nature of its aromas. The finish is silky, with melting tannins and terrific length. Wines from Verduno tend to show a combination of floral intensity and spiciness, but this vintage of Acclivi is partial to the floral side of the equation.

The Wine Spectator 96 Points | Perfumed and expressive, this red exudes rose, strawberry, cherry and mineral aromas and flavors. Detailed and complex, with terrific harmony and finesse. The long aftertaste echoes the floral, fruit and mineral elements. Shows the graceful, sophisticated side of Barolo. Best from 2026 through 2045. 650 cases made.

Vinous 94 Points | The 2019 Barolo Acclivi is a very serious wine in this range. It possesses a gorgeous core and tons of supporting structure. I would give the 2019 at least a few years in bottle, as it really needs that time to release its aromatics. I have seen this wine blossom with cellaring, and imagine that will be the case here as well. Today, the Acclivi is quite closed, but time in the glass releases gorgeous red fruit and blood orange character. Although the Acclivi is not as coveted as the Cannubi or Monvigliero, it is an important wine in its own right, as several recent bottles of the 2006 showed. Think of it like Rousseau's Clos Saint-Jacques relative to the Chambertin and Beze.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Wine Spectator 92 Points | A beam of cherry and red currant courses through this racy red, revealing flashes of rose and wild herbs, with a mineral underpinning. This is persistent, with a long aftertaste that emphasizes the pure fruit. Best from 2026 through 2042.

Decanter 92 Points | Ripe black and red berry fruit, baked plum, and hints of tea leaf. Robust and rich, open, grainy tannins frame the fruit, and the finish has nice juice and length. Shows real charm!

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | Good varietal expression in this 2018 Barbaresco, with delicate aromas of spiced plums, rose petals, violets, strawberry blossoms, cinnamon, nutmeg and saddle leather. Medium bodied in the mouth with savory complexity and supple tannins that carry through the finish. A perfect wine for stews and slow roasted wild game, as well as hearty pasta and strong cheese.

Expert Review - 2018 

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Penetrating aromas of warmed cherries soaked with cinnamon, clove and anise that develop into dried rose petals, forest floor. The palate has a core of savory spice wrapped around drying wild red berries and Alpine herbs framed by well-placed tannins and electric acidity. A wine worthy of the cellar. Drink now–2040.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Kerin O'Keefe writes 93 Points | The enticingly fragrant 2021 classic Barbaresco from Carlo Giacosa has enticing scents of botanical herb, hay, dog rose, camphor and spice. It's utterly delicious, with flavors of star anise, red cherry, cranberry and blood orange that race across the palate before a black tea finish. It's well balanced, with taut, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. This is an estate that gets better every year.

Wine Spectator writes 92 Points | Cherry, earth and eucalyptus aromas and flavors herald this fleshy, succulent red. An undertone of mineral is there, too, as this builds to the solid, extended finish. Well-structured, with boysenberry and tobacco accents in the end. Best from 2028 through 2042. 250 cases made, 83 cases imported.

Winemaker Description 

Ferrando’s white-label Carema is among the most elegant expressions of Nebbiolo in existence, combining ample density with a very Alpine sense of nimbleness. Never an overwhelmingly powerful wine, “Etichetta Bianca” derives its sense of structure more from its acid-fruit tension than its tannins, offering satisfyingly savory fruit buttressed by vigorous mountain acidity.

Fermented in stainless steel without temperature control and using only indigenous yeasts, it spends three full years in a combination of 20-hectoliter Slavonian oak botti and used 500-liter French barrels.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

James Suckling 96 Points: "The blackberry, spice and tar aromas are enticing and follow through to a full yet tight body that shows density and depth. The tannins are extremely well integrated and feel melted into the wine. Slightly bitter orange and mineral character at the end. Complex and curated."

The Wine Enthusiast 96 Points: "The wine is a bold expression of dark macerated cherries, earthy undertones with the nuanced complexity of oolong tea and a medley of spices and hen of the wood mushrooms. The palate is marked by a dark, smoky character, dusted with spices, creating a big and commanding presence in the glass that showcases the depth and power of the wines but never goes too far, maintaining an elegant line throughout the glass. Drink 2026 - 2050."

Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate 95 Points: "The Luciano Sandrone 2020 Barolo Le Vigne is open-knit in texture with sun-drenched aromas. You get ripe fruit with black cherry, blackcurrant, forest floor and wild mushroom. With time in the glass, the wine reveals floral definition, grilled tarragon herb and a heavier note of wheat biscuit. Starting with the 2019 vintage, Le Vigne also includes Le Coste di Monforte fruit along with fruit from Baudana in Serralunga d'Alba, Villero in Castiglione Falletto, Vignane in Barolo and Merli in Novello."

Bruce Sanderson, The Wine Spectator 95 Points: "Black cherry, raspberry and plum fruit is wrapped in a veil of toasty oak in this solidly built red. Ripe and dense, yet with a sense of elegance, this persists on the iron- and eucalyptus-tinged finish, with fine balance and freshness.

Winemaker Description 

Dark red/garnet color. Tarry black cherries are front and center on the nose, with licorice, vanilla, black cassis, violets and hints of forest floor mushrooms coming through. The mouth is lovely, still a bit closed and with good tannins that will keep evolving, finishing with hints of cola nut and spices. At 8 years of age it is showing beautifully, and though it will keep improving, it will be hard to resist now. This is a long-lived wine, where the fruit is in great balance with the acid, oak and tannin.

Expert Review

97 Points Wine Spectator | This pure and stylish Barolo features rose, strawberry, cherry, mineral and underbrush aromas and flavors. Though silky in texture, this is well-structured, with integrated tannins and harmony. This is all about finesse and texture, with excellent length and a mineral aftertaste.

Winemaker Description

Full body vintage with ripe fruity aromas, balanced tannins and elegant finish. Full bodied wines with intense red fruit matched by youthful tannins and elegant finish.

Pair with fresh egg pasta dishes, risotto, white and red meat, game and venison.

Expert Review

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 94 Points | The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is a heady, explosive wine. I don't think I have ever tasted an Ovello from the Produttori with this much heft. The strong mineral and saline accents typical of this site are present, but they are matched pound for pound by notable mid-palate richness and intensity in its fruit. The 2017 is a brooding powerhouse that needs time to unwind.  Drinking 2027 to 3039.  

Monica Lerner of Wine Advocate writes 94+ Points | One of the bigger productions (with 17,744 bottles) in the Produttori del Barbaresco's portfolio is the 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello. All of the Riservas in this vintage are characterized by especially exuberant and bold aromas, and this bottle is a prime example. Cassis, wild cherry, tobacco, rusty nail and licorice build intensity. The wine is tapered and silky in texture, but it also offers a good amount of power (and 15% alcohol) to carry it through the aging process.  Drinking 2024 to 2045.

James Suckling 94 Points | A tight and pretty Barbaresco with a solid depth of fruit that shows ripe strawberry and terracotta character. Tannins spread across the palate in a chunky way like thick velvet. Juicy and thick at the end. Drink or hold. 

Aldo Fiordelli of Decanter writes 93 Points | The profile of this 2017 Riserva is completely different from the more graceful and balanced 2019. Nevertheless, the Ovello of Cantina Produttori del Barbaresco is a fiercely rustic yet good example. Restrained if not reductive, it opens up to reveal tobacco and dried cherry aromas with a lot of minty minerality. Austere and dark, it features crisp acidity and muscular tannins with a slightly rustic finish. Traditionally a great price-quality ratio.  Drinking 2022 - 2037.  

Bruce Sanderson of Wine Spectator writes 94 Points | Taut and sinewy, boasting cherry, black currant, grass, iron and tar notes. Powerful tannins drive the finish, which is compact for now. In the end, this is lightly astringent, but has plenty of drive and should find equilibrium with time. Best from 2026 through 2043.