Piedmont Wine

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | A bright ruby/magenta color, the 2024 Barbera D'Alba is spicy and lifted on the nose with notes of pepper, fresh herbs, and bright red fruit shining through. The palate is zesty and lively, with electric energy, refreshing, focused acidity, and a compact linear feel. It has a cooling sensation on the palate. Drink over the next several years. This is not a Barbera for volume of richness; it’s about the crunchy, bright fruit, and it will be best enjoyed while it retains its lively nerve.

Winemaker Notes

G.D. Vajra Barbera d'Alba comes from a wonderful range of estate vineyards. It is fermented for an average of 20 days and ages no less than twelve months, in respect of the rhythm of nature. This is a fine blend, a charming wine, rich yet forward.

Our Barbera d’Alba is a joyous wine, graced by the complexity that arises from blending different terroirs. The long and gentle maceration is followed by a delicate aging so as to express the varietal fragrance and perfumes. The 2023 Barbera exhibits a brilliant purple hue. On the nose, this wine is a celebration of freshness, bursting with aromas of red berry juice, roses, and fresh plums, each wave adding to its vibrant energy. The palate is both crisp and juicy, offering a delightful drinking experience. It layers flavors of sweet red and black cherries, spices, and fresh dark berries, culminating in a melange of aromatics that defines the 2023 vintage.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

Vinous 91 Points | The 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo Botti is a classy, elegant wine. Crushed flowers, kirsch, orange peel, cinnamon and cedar are some of the many notes that open in the glass. There's gorgeous energy and delineation here. All the elements are so well balanced. This entry-level offering delivers the goods.

The Wine Spectator 90 Points | A pretty red, this features raspberry, cherry, rose and mineral flavors aligned with an elegant frame. Though airy and bright, this is intense, with its fruit builing to the long aftertaste. Shows fine harmony.

Winemaker Description 

Pecchenino winery is managed in a sustainable fashion: Orlando is convinced that the quality of his wine is strictly related to the natural health of his vineyard.

His main objective is that of growing the best possible grapes with the lowest possible impact on nature. In the vineyards, he opts for organic compost and avoids the use of any chemical products for weed or pest control; his treatments in the vineyards are all natural unless it becomes absolutely necessary.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024 

The Wine Enthusiast by Jeff Porter writes 93 Points | A stunning wine from a vastly underrated region, this wine opens with vibrant orchard fruits and cascading spring blossoms, creating a seductive aromatic cloud that pulls you into the glass. The dynamic palate dazzles with tart fruit, almond skin, and peach stone complexity, while fresh herbs add layers of intrigue. This brilliant Gavi captures both immediate pleasure and serious aging potential. Drink Now - 2035.

Winemaker Description 

Color  is straw yellow, with slight greenish hints. Offers a particularly fine mineral feeling and notes of fruit and white flowers. Mouthfeel is lively, balanced, with a fresh acidity, which increases its persistance and favours its drinkability.

A slight almondish finish.

Perfect pairing - Excellent as aperitif, paired with hors d’oeuvres and fish ragú or vegetable first courses. It is the perfect match also for seafood.

The vineyard's soil at La Raia is calcareous and clayey, it's approximately 400 metres above sea level with a south-east and south-west exposure. The vineyards surround the cellar, with an average density of 4500 plants per hectare. In accordance with the farm’s core philosophy and in line with the biodynamic principles, the vines are farmed without the use of any chemicals.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

The Wine Advocate by Monica Larner writes 95+ Points | This wine gives us our first taste of the epic 2021 vintage from a producer as prolific as Produttori del Barbaresco. Bottled in April 2024, this vintage shows the immense power and complexity that likens it to 2016, another year for collectors. The 2021 Barbaresco offers medium-rich density that is transmitted both to the wine's appearance and its mouthfeel. There is black fruit, spice and a touch of nutmeg. However, the wine maintains its youthful tension and energy throughout. The tannins are chalky, fine and void of any bitterness. This is a classical expression of Nebbiolo that gives us good reason to be excited for the upcoming 2021 Barbaresco Riservas. 

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 Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 91 Points | Spicy ripe berries, chocolate and hints of walnuts and dry soil. Medium-bodied with vivid, fleshy fruit, framed with firm, dusty tannins. Focused and tense

Winemaker Description

This wine's ripe, dark-skinned fruit, culinary spice and new leather scents lead the way, along with a menthol note. The firmly structured, chewy palate offers dried Morello cherry, raspberry jam, licorice and espresso flavors alongside fine-grained tannins. Pair with pasta and beans, risotto with porcini mushrooms, chicken chasseur. 

Winemaker Description

A wonderfully food-friendly Barbera. Ruby red and medium bodied with light cherry fruit and great acidity. A wonderfully food-friendly Barbera from one of our favorite producers in Piedmont.  Ruby red and medium bodied with light cherry fruit and great acidity. Lovingly made from organically grown grapes.

Tabaren (from the French "tabarin") was a venue used for theatre plays, art and dancing. We are all better dancers after a couple of glasses of wine.

Producer Description 

The last remaining example of appellation Vermouth di Torino to comply with all of the classical requirements, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino has been produced since 1891. Cocchi uses estate Moscato as the wine base, and vibrant, spicy botanicals such as cocoa, citrus, ginger, and rhubarb.

In contrast with other popular Italian vermouths, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino retains wines of Piedmont as the base and avoids a heavy sheen of vanilla or caramel that clashes with other cocktail ingredients. Delicious when poured on ice and a small lemon zest, but also an essential base for the creation of the most classic cocktails from Negroni to Manhattan. Cocchi has produced wine-based aperitifs and traditional Piemontese sparkling wines since 1891.

Giulio Cocchi was a young and creative pastry chef from Florence, where he worked in a popular bar located in Piazza del Duomo. In the late nineteenth century he moved to Asti, a small but lively town in northwest Italy, not far from Torino, and established himself as a distiller and winemaker.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

The Wine Advocate by Monica Larner writes 92 Points | This wine was bottled approximately one month before I tasted it in October and was set to hit the market in November 2024. The Produttori del Barbaresco 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo shows a shiny ruby appearance and offers crunchy fruit flavors with blueberry and tart raspberry. Fruit is collected from the sites and the warmer microclimates that don't end up in the Barbaresco program, and the wine sees a shorter maceration time, lasting 21 days. -Monica Larner, Jan 2025

Decanter by Michaela Morris writes 91 Points | The 2023 leaps from the glass with clove, pepper and nutmeg. While not as dense as some vintages, it is a vibrant and boisterous mid-weight mouthful. Pleasantly cheek-puckering sour cherry and blackcurrant are amplified by frisky acidity. The spicy finish makes for an appropriate bookend. Exclusively from Barbaresco-designated vineyards, this is a blend of lots that don’t make it into the classic or cru Barbaresco bottlings. 

Jeb Dunnuck by Audrey Frick writes writes 90 Points | The 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo is a bright medium red color and is very pretty and spiced on the nose with aromas of white pepper, wild strawberries, and floral perfume. This is still entirely made from Barbaresco fruit and was rested for 4 months in large barrel. The palate is refined and medium bodied, and the wine is salty and fresh, with chalky, fine tannins, and an elegant citrusy finish. Drink now or over the coming 5-6 years. 

Winemaker Description 

Produttori del Barbaresco is a cooperative winery renowned for its commitment to showcasing the unique terroir of Barbaresco. They source grapes exclusively from their members' vineyards, ensuring consistent quality and a true representation of the region's Nebbiolo. Their focus on traditional winemaking methods has earned them recognition as a benchmark producer of Nebbiolo wines.

The Langhe Nebbiolo Produttori del Barbaresco 2023 offers a classic expression of Nebbiolo from Piedmont, Italy. A favorable growing season allowed for balanced ripeness and elegant aromatics.

This wine presents enticing aromas of red cherry, rose petal, and a hint of earthy spice. On the palate, expect fine tannins and flavors of cranberry, raspberry, and a subtle mineral note, leading to a vibrant, lingering finish.

Pair this elegant Nebbiolo with roasted poultry, mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses. Its delicate structure and bright acidity make it a versatile companion for a variety of flavorful dishes.

Winemaker Description 

Vermouth di Torino is a collective heritage of Piedmont, which sees in the royal Savoy court as first big promoter of a product which, mainly starting from the late XVIII century, generated a flourishing industry which led Piedmont to become the Kingdom of Vermouth. 

Notes of cocoa, rhubarb, dandelion, caramel, and orange peel deliver a rich and refined character.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 96 Points | This is very powerful and structured, with aromas of black truffles, graphite and hints of dried thyme and cedar. Medium- to full-bodied and chewy yet polished. Hints of terra cotta and dark fruit. The finish goes on and on. 

The Wine Advocate 94 Points | The Pio Cesare 2021 Barolo draws fruit from various sites, and like the Barbaresco, you get an excellent portrait of the vintage with balanced acidity, firm tannins and bright primary fruit. There is energy and vitality in this pretty Barolo with dried cherry, iris and subtle dustings of iron ore or rust.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Displaying a deeper red color with more pigment, the 2021 Barolo Pio is more layered, savory, and noble in its feel all around and opens to notes of fresh cherries, licorice, lifted clove spice, and forest herbs. It shows a good deal of intensity on the palate, with firm, structured tannins, and while it’s medium-bodied, it feels more expansive and has mineral drive. It demands a bit of cellaring but will drink well over the next 15-20 years.

Winemaker Description 

A traditional vintage delivering fresh fruits and beautiful aromas, with great structure and complexity, intense color and a balanced acidity, already approachable with its gentle tannins—all the classic components of the great vintages of Barolo. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

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.  

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 Ratings - Vintage 2023

The Wine Spectator 91 Points | A smooth version, revealing cherry, raspberry, rose and mineral flavors. An astringent feel emerges midpalate, yet this red remains long and pure. Drink now through 2032.

Vinous 90 Points | The 2023 Barbera d'Alba is a boisterous, juicy wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Vinification and aging in a combination of cement and steel keeps the red-toned fruit wonderfully vibrant. Lifted floral notes linger on the close.

Winemaker Descrption

Deep purplish, almost impenetrable red. Elegant, sweet, and tempting, the intense and fruity notes characteristic of Barbera emerge. Vinous, fresh, and well-balanced. An easy to drink wine which is tasty and rich without being excessively heavy.

Perfect with Langhe cuisine and very tasty dishes in general. Excellent with pasts, rice, and soup, braised or grilled red meats, and medium mature cheeses. It is also perfect for aperitifs, with appetizers and sliced meats. Winemaker Description. 

Memo Pairing Suggestions

Food Pairings: Highly versatile for "everyday" dining. Pairs perfectly with Langhe cuisine (tajarin with ragù), roasted chicken, grilled red meats, and medium-aged cheeses. It is also a rare red that works well as an aperitif with cured meats.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Vinous 90 Points | The 2023 Barbera d'Asti Ca' di Pian is soft, supple and delicious. A burst of blueberry, black cherry, spice, lavender, menthol and chocolate gives the 2023 tons of immediacy and sheer appeal. This is an especially fine edition of La Spinetta's entry-level Barbera. Best of all, this is a terrific value. 

Winemaker Description 

Intense aromas of blackberry and morello cherries. This wine is truly captivating, yet it remains fresh and extremely versatile.

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. 

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

James Suckling 95 Points | A fine-tuned, elegant Barolo with aromas of dried cherries, dried roses, licorice and mint. Full-bodied, it shows smoothness, density, weight and soft tannins despite the structure, with refreshing acidity and a long, vibrant finish full of savory flavors. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer, writes: 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.

Vinous 92 Points: The 2018 Barbaresco from La Ganghija is a bold, pungent Treiso Barbaresco. Wild cherry, spice, leather, tobacco and menthol are front and center in this wild, pleasantly rustic Barbaresco. There is certainly plenty of character here. Readers should expect an austere style, though.

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description 

Bright straw-yellow color with slightly shimmering hints of gold. Intense aromas of ripe yellow fruit (peach, apricot), floral notes (rose petals, acacia flowers) and ginger. Sweet and delicate on the palate, with modest acidity, good balance and complexity. Hints of fresh apricot on the finish.

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.

Winemaker Description

Elvio Cogno showcases the Nascetta grape, highlighting its revival in Piedmont. This wine presents a complex array of white flowers, citrus, and mineral notes, balancing vibrant acidity with rich texture.

It underscores Elvio Cogno’s commitment to promoting indigenous varietals, offering a structured, expressive white that reflects the unique Novello terroir and the varietal’s aging potential.

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.

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!

Winemaker Description 

Moscato d’Asti D.O.C.G Grape variety: Moscato 100%

A bright straw-yellow color with slightly shimmering hints of gold. Intense aromas of ripe yellow fruit (peach, apricot), floral notes (rose petals, acacia flowers) and ginger. Sweet and delicate on the palate, with modest acidity, good balance and complexity.

Hints of fresh apricot on the finish.r

Sourced from small vineyards in Castiglione Tinella, with 4,500 plants per hectare. The vines, cultivated with the Guyot-system have an average age of 40 years.

Limestone- and clay-rich soil.

A percentage of around 5.5% alcohol by volume is reached, the temperature is quickly reduced to stop the fermentation.

The wine, which is only partially fermented, is then filtered. The wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation and is bottled using sterile filtration.

Producer Description 

Vermouth Amaro Cocchi has been created according to the original recipe by Giulio Cocchi where Artemisia was enriched with rhubarb, quassia wood, chiretta and a double infusion of cinchona. The addition of Barolo Chinato to the base wine gives delicately red nuances and a further soft and complex note – totally Cocchi style. 

Winemaker Description 

Arneis produces a lightly styled white wine with beautiful straw yellow colour. Citrus edged orchard fruits, pear and apricot are attractive on the palate with slightly bitter floral note that can resemble almonds. L'azienda Brovia is a traditional Piemontese family wine growing estate in Castiglione Falletto, in the heart of Barolo country. The wine is appreciated for its refined elegance.

The sole white wine of the estate is produced in the Roero district from an 0.80 hectare plot in Vezza d’Alba. The soil is essentially sandy in composition and sits at 340 meters altitude on south-facing slopes. The vineyard was planted in 1980. Harvest (manual) normally occurs in mid-September.

The grapes are briefly macerated and the fermentation occurs at controlled temperatures (around 15 degrees Celsius) for two to three weeks. The wine rests in stainless steel until the early spring months of the following year and is usually released to the market, after several months of bottle aging, in late summer/early fall.

Approximately 4500 bottles are produced annually, 3,000 of which are shipped to the USA. 

Memo Pairing Notes

This Arneis is incredibly versatile. Its freshness and body make it a perfect match for:

• Raw and Cooked Seafood: Oysters, raw tuna, grilled octopus, and white fish.

• Vegetable Dishes: Vegetable-based pasta, light risottos, or asparagus.

• Cured Meats & Cheese: Light ham or salami, and fresh, milky cheeses like Burrata or soft goat cheese.

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).

Winemaker Description 

A superb and age-worthy Barolo by Giacomo Conterno, from the Francia vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba. 100% Nebbiolo. Fermented with native yeasts and aged in large oak casks. Red fruits, roses, tar, licorice and spices notes. Powerful and complex. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

Expert Reviews 97 Points Wine Advocate | Of the three Barolo samples I tasted from barrel (including Arione and Cerretta, which are also from Serralunga d'Alba), the Giacomo Conterno 2018 Barolo Francia was the furthest behind and the hardest to pin down at this stage in its infancy. I have opened my range of scores accordingly to compensate for the magical unknowns that are likely to occur as the wine moves toward greater harmony and integration before its commercial release. The wine is linear and pointedly focused, lacking the width and volume it will gain when given more time to flesh out and relax. The aromas are also quite primary and simple at this point, with dark cherry and even a hint of ripe strawberry ceding gradually to grilled herb, blue flower and baked brick. This vintage of Barolo Francia will require patience. (2018).

95 Points Wine Spectator | Delivers depth and power, with menthol and wild herbs shading cherry and plum flavors. The balance tips toward the tannins in the end, yet this doesn't feel overly astringent, just more structured than many '18s. Picks up a mineral element as this lingers on the finish. Be patient. (2018).

95+ Points Vinous | The 2018 Barolo Francia is powerful, deep and also a touch austere. It shows the edginess of all the 2018s, but also has a feeling of textural creaminess that adds tons of character. Spice, menthol, leather and a whole range of balsamic overtones build into the deep, imposing finish. Roberto Conterno decided to forego his Barolo Monfortino in 2018, opting instead to blend all the casks into his Francia bottling. When that happens, Francia often surprises down the road. That could very well turn out to be the case here. (2018).

Monica Larner writes:  The Giacomo Conterno 2018 Barolo Francia has opened beautifully since I last tasted this wine at the winery two years ago. It was closed back then (no surprise since I tasted it as an unfinished sample), but with the distance of time, the wine has blossomed to show blackcurrant, cassis, aniseed, blue flower and pencil shaving. The Francia is known for its magical combination of power and nuance, both delivered with seamless intensity. This vintage offers a savory component with hints of toasted spice or spent ember. The tannins are fine and polished.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Audrey Frick - Jeb Dunnuck - 96 Points | The nose of the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is quite expressive and spiced showing very nicely with ripe aromas of wild raspberries cherries fresh herbs and blood orange spice. The palate gains in intensity with good energy and a mineral drive. A very successful wine in this vintage it's going to have plenty of life over the next 15-20 years.

Monica Larner - The Wine Advocate - 94 Points | The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo comes from an area that is further removed from the Tanaro River and has southwestern exposures. It shows a typical profile for Nebbiolo with rich fruit a velvety mouthfeel and textural volume that is delivered with ample blackberry blackcurrant and spice. The character of this wine is generous and rich. There is plenty of meat on these bones.

Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator - 94 Points | The 2020 Rio Sordo is very aromatic and exuberant featuring blood orange citrus peel cherry and rose hip flavors. Succulent and approachable with a light coating of tannins it's in the line of Pora and Pajé if a touch denser. This red bursts with cherry strawberry and rose aromas and flavors plus mineral white pepper and anise elements. Firm and lively showing accessibility and harmony. Enjoyable now but there's no rush.

Vinous Media - 94 Points | The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is pretty closed today which is probably a very good sign for its aging prospects as this site tends to produce wines that are more open than this. Dark cherry plum leather incense and tobacco offer a decidedly somber expression of Rio Sordo. The 2020 clearly needs time.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Decanter 93 Points | A youthful magenta color, the 2023 Barbera D'Alba is fresh and fruity. This vintage was released at the end of 2024 and is the blend of more than 10 different locations in the Barolo and Barbaresco region as well as from villages outside the appellation. The nose is fresh with notes of ripe cherries, candied flowers, delicate baking spice, and just hint of turned earth. It’s medium-bodied and has snappy freshness, with a plush texture and a hint of savory earth notes, making this a very food-friendly wine, perfect for pasta nights and pizza.

Winemaker Description 

The Barbera grapes grown in the Barolo area give full structure, plummy and complex flavor, with spicy and ripe fruit, blackberry aroma and a hint of toasted tobacco. It ages quite well. Vinous, this classic Barbera has a very well balanced acidity and really represents the traditional character of the Barbera grape.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

The Wine Spectator 95 Points | This is supple and complex, delivering cherry, strawberry, summer meadow, earth, leather and iron aromas and flavors. Firmly structured, this picks up a hint of licorice as it winds down on the lingering finish, with tannins that are solid yet civilized. Shows fine potential. Best from 2028 through 2046. 1,670 cases made, 540 cases imported.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | The medium red 2020 Barolo Cascina Nuova is spiced and fruity with notes of ripe grenadine, pink peppercorn, dried apricots, and polished leather. Open and approachable, it offers ripe, supple tannins, even acidity, and a clean finish with good length. It’s a very charming wine with a wide drinking window for enjoyment over the next 10 years.