2020 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo, Piedmont

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.

94 points Antonio Galloni vinous.com

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.

94 points Monica Larner robertparker.com

Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo from Piedmont is a beautifully structured and polished single vineyard Nebbiolo that showcases the elegant, silky side of Barbaresco. Part of the famed Riserva series produced only in outstanding vintages, Rio Sordo is known for its finesse, supple tannins, and earlier approachability compared to some of its more austere Riserva siblings. Despite its charm, it remains highly sought after and sells out quickly every release due to its exceptional quality and limited production.

The Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative, established in 1958, brings together some of the finest growers in the region and has built a global reputation for producing traditionally made, terroir expressive Nebbiolo. Their nine single vineyard Riservas—including Rio Sordo—are regarded as some of the greatest values in all of Italian fine wine.

The Rio Sordo vineyard is located in the southern part of the Barbaresco zone, where the soils are rich in limestone with a touch more sand compared to other crus. The exposure is west to southwest, giving the site warm afternoon sun that results in a rounder, softer style of Nebbiolo. The vineyard's profile allows for wines that are aromatic, finely textured, and beautifully balanced between fruit and savoury earth.

Traditional winemaking is at the core of the Produttori style. The wine undergoes fermentation in concrete tanks with extended maceration on the skins, followed by thirty six months of maturation in large Slavonian oak casks. No tricks or heavy extraction—just patient, respectful winemaking designed to let the vineyard shine.

In the glass, Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo reveals aromas of ripe red cherry, raspberry, rose petals, leather, and sweet tobacco. The palate is medium bodied with fine, silky tannins, juicy red fruits, and an earthy mineral note that lingers through a savoury, elegant finish. While it has the structure to age gracefully for twenty years or more, it can often be enjoyed a little earlier than some of the other Riservas thanks to its softer texture.

Perfect with roast pork, veal scaloppine, mushroom risotto, or aged Parmigiano, Rio Sordo offers an authentic taste of Barbaresco’s refined side, always with the hallmark grace and pedigree that defines the Produttori style.