Winemaker Notes
Bright and transparent garnet red color, clean and clear dark fruits, sweet spices, Mediterranean scrub, undergrowth. Dense tannins, good structure and depth, elegant and austere. A long persistent finish.
It is perfect for pairing with important main courses and aged cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2022 Barbaresco Rio Sordo is a very beautiful wine. Dark Nebbiolo fruit, spice, new leather, menthol, pine and espresso give the 2022 its decidedly somber first impression. The Rio Sordo opens beautifully with a bit of time in the glass. This is an understated, classy wine that just needs a bit of time to soften. Rating: 93+
Italian Red Wine
While picturesque hillsides, endless coastlines and a favorable climate serve to unify the grape-growing culture of this country. The apparent never-ending world of indigenous grape varieties gives Italy an unexampled charm and allure for its red wines. From the steep inclines of the Alps to the sprawling, warm, coastal plains of the south, red grape varieties thrive throughout.
The kings of Italy, wines like Barolo and Barbaresco (made of Nebbiolo), and Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino (made of Sangiovese), as well as Amarone (mostly Corvina), play center stage for the most lauded, collected and cellar-worthy reds. Less popular but entirely deserving of as much praise are the wines made from Aglianico, Sagrantino and Nerello Mascalese.
For those accustomed to drinking New World reds, the south is the place to start. Grapes like Negroamaro or Primitvo from Puglia and Nero d’Avola from Sicily make soft, ammicable, full-bodied, fruit-dominant wines. Curious palates should be on the lookout for Cannonau (Grenache), Lagrein, Teroldego, Ruché, Freisa, Cesanese, Schiopettino, Rossese and Gaglioppo to name a few.