Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
New leather, forest berry and spice aromas come to the forefront along with an earthy whiff of underbrush. On the taut, youthfully austere palate, fine-grained tannins accompany ripe raspberry, strawberry compote and grated nutmeg. This sill benefit with a few more years in the bottle aging.
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Wine Spectator
Lithe and open, this red displays cherry, menthol, mineral and oak spice flavors, underscored by a foundation of dense, assertive tannins. Opens up with air, knitting together and extending on the lengthy aftertaste. Best from 2027 through 2043.
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James Suckling
A very fine tannined red with lovely length and finesse with blackberry, citrus and earth undertones. Some ash. Medium body, firm tannins and a solid finish.
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Vinous
The 2019 Barbaresco Asili is fabulous. Crushed flowers, mint, herbs, licorice, macerated cherry, spice and sweet pipe tobacco all grace this exquisite, classically built Barbaresco from the famed Asili vineyard. Floral and earthy notes extend the perfumed finish effortlessly.
Responsible for some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world, Nebbiolo, named for the ubiquitous autumnal fog (called nebbia in Italian), is the star variety of northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Grown throughout the area, as well as in the neighboring Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina, it reaches its highest potential in the Piedmontese villages of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero. Outside of Italy, growers are still very much in the experimentation stage but some success has been achieved in parts of California. Somm Secret—If you’re new to Nebbiolo, start with a charming, wallet-friendly, early-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d'Alba.
A wine that most perfectly conveys the spirit and essence of its place, Barbaresco is true reflection of terroir. Its star grape, like that in the neighboring Barolo region, is Nebbiolo. Four townships within the Barbaresco zone can produce Barbaresco: the actual village of Barbaresco, as well as Neive, Treiso and San Rocco Seno d'Elvio.
Broadly speaking there are more similarities in the soils of Barbaresco and Barolo than there are differences. Barbaresco’s soils are approximately of the same two major soil types as Barolo: blue-grey marl of the Tortonion epoch, producing more fragile and aromatic characteristics, and Helvetian white yellow marl, which produces wines with more structure and tannins.
Nebbiolo ripens earlier in Barbaresco than in Barolo, primarily due to the vineyards’ proximity to the Tanaro River and lower elevations. While the wines here are still powerful, Barbaresco expresses a more feminine side of Nebbiolo, often with softer tannins, delicate fruit and an elegant perfume. Typical in a well-made Barbaresco are expressions of rose petal, cherry, strawberry, violets, smoke and spice. These wines need a few years before they reach their peak, the best of which need over a decade or longer. Bottle aging adds more savory characteristics, such as earth, iron and dried fruit.