2021 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Paje, Piedmont

Stunning depth on the nose of this complex red, showing dried violets and roses, intoxicating balsamic, strawberries, cherries and a distinctive leafy lightness with a whiff of mint. Elegant on the attack, with ripe, velvety and tightly knit tannins. Extracted and savory with refreshing acidity, showing stony minerality and licorice in the very persistent, multilayered finish. March 2026 release. It will last for decades. Drink or hold.

98 points Aldo Fiordelli for James Suckling

The 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Pajé pours a jeweled red color and remains somewhat reserved at this early stage. Aromas of orange peel, powdery floral perfume, ripe pomegranate, and baked earth emerge gradually from the glass. Medium-bodied, it has focused acidity and a more linear feel, with fine-grained tannins and a balanced, floating finish that carries a noble elegance. Roughly 13,333 bottles were produced. Drink 2027-2047.

96 points Audrey Frick for Jeb Dunnuck

The 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè is deep, dense wine. Strong spice and balsamic notes wrap around a core of dark-toned fruit. A brooding, packed powerhouse, the Pajè needs a number of years to be at its most expressive. This is classic Pajè all way, dialed up to eleven. Time in the glass brings out the wine's complex, dynamic personality and overall breadth. Drink 2027-2041.

96 points Antonio Galloni for Vinous

From a two-hectare site rooted in limestone soils, the Produttori del Barbaresco 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè reveals pretty blue fruit nuances followed by an earthy-mineral side marked by iris root, violet and a distinctive hint of rusty nail. The themes here are primarily floral and mineral, with the vineyard's natural finesse emerging clearly through the wine's layered aromatic profile. In this exceptional vintage, the intensity and elegance are elevated another notch. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in large oak botti, this release totals 13,300 bottles and beautifully captures the refined character that has long distinguished Pajè. Drink 2027-2048.

95 points Monica Larner for The Wine Advocate

Few wines capture the soul of Barbaresco quite like the single vineyard Riservas of Produttori del Barbaresco. Produced only in exceptional vintages, these iconic wines are crafted from the cooperative's finest crus and represent the purest expression of traditional Nebbiolo. Paje is one of the most revered vineyards in the appellation, sitting immediately beneath the village of Barbaresco on a superb amphitheatre of limestone rich marl. It is celebrated for producing wines of extraordinary perfume, finesse and precision, often combining seductive charm in youth with the structure to evolve effortlessly for decades. The magnificent 2021 vintage has delivered a Paje of exceptional pedigree that will delight both collectors and lovers of classic Piedmont.

Produttori del Barbaresco has long been regarded as the benchmark for traditional Barbaresco, preserving time honoured winemaking techniques while allowing each cru to express its own distinct personality. Paje enjoys an enviable south to south west facing aspect, where perfectly exposed vines benefit from abundant sunshine tempered by cool evening breezes rolling through the Langhe hills. The calcareous clay and marl soils provide the ideal foundation for Nebbiolo, producing fruit with remarkable aromatic complexity, finely etched tannins and vibrant natural acidity. Extended ageing in large Slavonian oak casks enhances texture and complexity while allowing the vineyard's unique character to remain front and centre.

The colour is a brilliant garnet with vibrant ruby highlights. Intensely perfumed aromas of wild strawberry, red cherry and blood orange are layered with dried rose petals, violet, cranberry, star anise and delicate notes of sweet spice. As the wine opens, hints of truffle, forest floor, tobacco leaf, crushed stone and fragrant herbs add remarkable depth and intrigue. The palate is graceful yet powerful, with beautifully defined red berry fruit wrapped around silky but persistent tannins. Bright acidity brings freshness and energy, while flavours of liquorice, tea leaf, orange zest and savoury earth flow through an exceptionally long, refined finish. Every element is in perfect harmony, showcasing the elegance, transparency and quiet authority that have made Paje one of Barbaresco's most treasured crus.

A magnificent partner to tajarin with white truffle, osso buco, roast duck, slow braised veal, porcini mushroom risotto or aged Parmigiano Reggiano. Although mesmerising after several hours in a decanter, this is a wine built for the cellar and will continue to reward patient collectors for thirty years or more, gradually revealing even greater complexity, fragrance and finesse.