2020 La Ca' Növa Barbaresco, Piedmont

The 2020 Barbaresco has developed beautifully over the last year. It marries lovely fruit purity with classic structure. A pretty appealing combination in my book. Readers looking for an affordable Barbaresco to drink now should jump all over the 2020. It's a gorgeous wine in every way

93 points vinous.com

La Ca' Növa Barbaresco is a brilliant introduction to the estate’s traditional style and a textbook expression of Nebbiolo from the heart of Piedmont. Sourced from younger vines and parcels within the famed crus of Montefico and Montestefano, this wine offers incredible quality for its price — combining elegance, savoury detail and firm structure in a way that’s unmistakably Barbaresco.

Fermentation is spontaneous with native yeasts, and the wine is matured for two years in large Slavonian oak casks, just like the estate’s single-cru wines. No new oak, no manipulation, no shortcuts. It’s honest, authentic Nebbiolo that speaks of its place with clarity and restraint.

You’ll find aromas of dried rose petals, sour cherry, raspberry, fennel seed, and crushed stone. The palate is mid-weight and savoury, with red berry fruit, fine tannins, lively acidity and a mineral, iron-tinged finish. There’s a seriousness here — structure, grip, and ageability — but also an openness that makes it approachable a little earlier than the cru bottlings.

Food pairing: ideal with duck and porcini ragù, veal cutlets with sage and butter, truffle tajarin or mushroom risotto. Also excellent with aged cheeses or charcuterie.

Cellar potential: drinking well with air from around 2025 but will age gracefully for 10 to 15 years.