2020 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Paje, Piedmont

The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè is a classic wine from this site. Deeply spiced and balsamic notes meld into a core of dark, sepia-toned Nebbiolo fruit. A Barbaresco of real presence and substance, the Pajè makes itself felt. It's one of my early dark horse favorites in this range from Produttori del Barbaresco.

95 points Antonio Galloni vinous.com

The Pajè vineyard faces the Tanaro River and is tucked at back of a narrow theater of vines. The site is often characterized by a floral note of rose and violet that comes thought nicely in the Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè. With those sweet floral notes comes an open-knit mouthfeel and a more immediate drinking style with soft, silky tannins. In fact, this was the second of nine wines served in a flight that started with the lightest Riservas and ended with the most powerful wines.

93 points Monica Larner robertparker.com

Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Pajè from Piedmont is a stunning, site driven Nebbiolo that captures the vibrant energy and structured elegance of one of Barbaresco’s most prized crus. Part of the revered Riserva collection produced only in the finest vintages, Pajè stands out for its precision, lifted aromatics, and superb balance, making it one of the most admired and collectible Riservas in the Produttori stable.

Pajè is a small vineyard nestled just outside the village of Barbaresco itself, with a prime southwest exposure and soils rich in limestone and clay. The combination of ideal sunlight and the mineral rich soils gives the wines from Pajè a distinctive combination of brightness, tension, and deep fruit character. It is a cru that produces Barbaresco of superb definition, with fine tannins and vibrant acidity that promise both early enjoyment and long ageing potential.

Founded in 1958, Produttori del Barbaresco remains a touchstone for classic, traditional Nebbiolo. Their Riserva program, showcasing nine single vineyard wines, is among the most respected and beloved series in Italy, delivering exceptional quality at extraordinary value year after year.

The winemaking for Pajè follows the Produttori’s traditional approach. Fermentation takes place in concrete vats with long maceration on skins, followed by thirty six months of maturation in large Slavonian oak casks. There is no heavy intervention, allowing the vineyard and vintage to speak clearly through the wine.

In the glass, Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Pajè offers soaring aromas of wild strawberry, sour cherry, violet, tobacco, and crushed stone. The palate is medium bodied but tightly coiled, with bright red fruits, vibrant acidity, fine chalky tannins, and a precise mineral finish. Pajè is often one of the most energetic and transparent of the Riservas, offering breathtaking purity and ageing gracefully over twenty years or more.

Perfect with truffle pasta, roasted game birds, beef carpaccio, or aged Parmigiano Reggiano, Pajè is a Barbaresco for those who value finesse, structure, and authentic expression of site.