2021 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Ovello, Piedmont

The 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello sizzles with tension right out of the gate. Orange peel, mint, chalk, white pepper and crushed rocks are all finely sketched. Bright and sinewy to the core, the 2021 captures the purest essence of Ovello. It's another stellar wine in this range. The Ovello will appeal most to readers who like tense wines.

96 points Vinous

The compelling 2021 Ovello Riserva from Produttori del Barbaresco opens with captivating aromas of dark culinary spice, underbrush, rose and mentholated notes. Delicious and full-bodied, the palate doles out ripe Marasca cherry, cranberry, star anise and ground clove. Firm, well-integrated tannins lend just the right amount of grip while fresh acidity keeps it bright and balanced. 

97 points Kerin O'Keefe

Few producers have shaped the reputation of Barbaresco quite like Produttori del Barbaresco. Their celebrated single vineyard Riservas are released only in exceptional vintages, allowing each historic cru to tell its own story through traditional winemaking and patient maturation. Ovello is one of the most distinctive vineyards in the appellation, renowned for producing Nebbiolo of remarkable fragrance, mineral precision and longevity. Sitting at one of the highest points around Barbaresco, it consistently delivers wines of poise and structure that rank among the Langhe's most ageworthy treasures. The outstanding 2021 vintage has produced an Ovello of exceptional purity that promises to reward collectors for decades.

Perched on the cooler northern edge of Barbaresco, Ovello benefits from higher elevations and limestone rich marl soils that encourage a slower ripening season. This unique combination preserves aromatic freshness while building beautifully refined tannins and vibrant acidity. The 2021 growing season provided ideal conditions for Nebbiolo, producing fruit with outstanding concentration and balance. Long ageing in large Slavonian oak casks respects the vineyard's natural character, allowing every nuance of this remarkable site to emerge with clarity and elegance.

The colour is a luminous garnet with youthful ruby highlights. The bouquet is immediately captivating, revealing fragrant rose petals, wild strawberry, red cherry and cranberry layered with violets, blood orange and hints of alpine herbs. As the wine evolves in the glass, notes of anise, crushed stone, tobacco leaf, truffle and dried tea leaves add remarkable complexity. The palate is finely etched and beautifully sculpted, balancing vibrant red berry fruit with chalky tannins and lively acidity. Flavours of sour cherry, liquorice, orange zest and savoury earth glide effortlessly towards an exceptionally long finish where mineral freshness and delicate spice linger long after the final sip. It is a wine of effortless elegance, remarkable energy and unmistakable vineyard character.

An exceptional match for roast duck, braised veal shanks, tajarin with butter and truffle, slow cooked rabbit, porcini mushroom risotto or well aged Parmigiano Reggiano. While wonderfully expressive after several hours in a decanter, this is a classic collector's Barbaresco that will continue to evolve gracefully for thirty years or more, rewarding patience with ever greater complexity and finesse.