2021 La Spinetta Barbaresco Gallina DOCG, Piedmont

Showing a medium-dark ruby color, the La Spinetta 2021 Barbaresco Gallina Vürsù has a pretty bouquet with aromas of fresh raspberry, tar and dark licorice. The wine initially offers pretty good definition and precision, but it grows even more linear and vertical as it opens in the glass. This is an organic production of 10,000 bottles. I would recommend a few more years of cellar age to let the oak and the fruit settle.

94 points Monica Larner robertparker.com

Very fragrant and bright with stem, plum and raspberry aromas and flavors. Medium body, firm and racy tannins and a vivid finish. Chewy and polished. Shows focus and precision at the finish. Lovely balance. Best in a long time. Drink after 2027.

96 points jamessuckling.com

From one of the most revered crus of Barbaresco comes Gallina, a vineyard that produces wines of remarkable perfume and elegance. The Gallina vineyard lies in the village of Neive where limestone rich marl soils and gentle south facing slopes allow Nebbiolo to ripen beautifully while retaining its natural freshness. La Spinetta was founded by Giuseppe Rivetti and today the estate is guided by the Rivetti family, with Giorgio Rivetti leading the winemaking. Over the past few decades La Spinetta has become one of Piedmont’s most recognised producers, known for crafting powerful yet refined expressions of Nebbiolo from some of the region’s finest sites.

The wine shows a luminous garnet colour typical of Nebbiolo. Aromas unfold with rose petal, wild strawberry and red cherry layered with hints of anise, dried herbs and subtle earthy spice. As the wine opens further notes of orange peel, liquorice and truffle begin to emerge, adding complexity. The palate is structured yet graceful with firm but polished tannins carrying flavours of sour cherry, cranberry and savoury spice across a finely balanced frame. Bright acidity keeps the wine vibrant while the vineyard’s limestone soils contribute a distinctive mineral thread. The finish is long and elegant with layers of fruit and spice lingering beautifully.

This is a Barbaresco built for the cellar and will continue to develop over the next fifteen to twenty years, sitting comfortably alongside braised meats, truffle dishes or classic Piedmontese cuisine.