Barbaresco
Barbaresco, seen as the more elegant counterpart of Barolo, spreads over 763 ha under vines (a third of Barolo’s ha), and is divided into four communes.
The Nebbiolo grape is said to ripen earlier here because of the gentler altitude – up to 450 metres – and the proximity to the Tanaro river. The legal guidelines for ageing reflect this, requiring only 26 months minimum of ageing for Barbaresco compared to 38 months for Barolo. Along with altitude, soil variations are another reason for their flavour differences: Barolo and Barbaresco are both limestone-based soils, but Barbaresco's soil is comparatively younger. Stylistically, Barbaresco is often described as a more elegant version of Barolo but, like its neighbour, its wines can come in a diverse spectrum of styles and are never without energy and power.
Barbaresco
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Piedmont | 3 | 92 (VN) | HK$2,325.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)The 2012 Barbaresco Montestefano is an excellent choice for drinking now and over the medium term, as it is already quite expressive. Soft, silky tannins wrap around a core of dried flowers, red cherries, mint, spices, licorice and leather. The 2012 is a relatively approachable young Barbaresco from Rivella. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 92 (VN) | HK$6,545.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)The 2014 Barbaresco Montestefano is a dark, mysterious wine. Wild black cherry, lavender, cloves, menthol and leather add to the wine's somber personality. Readers should expect a potent, old-school Barbaresco built on structure. This is an especially raw, brooding wine for the year, and yet there is so much character. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 95 (VN) | HK$4,115.00 | |||||
Vinous (95)The 2015 Barbaresco Montestefano is a glorious wine that captures Rivella's style at its best. Deep, fresh and full of energy, the 2015 shows a refined side of this highly regarded Barbaresco site, with soft edges that give the wine tremendous raciness as well as immediacy. This is a positively stellar, captivating wine from Guido Rivella. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 95 (VN) | HK$4,635.00 | |||||
Vinous (95)The 2016 Barbaresco Montestefano is magical. Bright and translucent, the 2016 pulses with energy from the very first taste. This is about as classic as things get in Barbaresco today. Sweet rose petal, cinnamon, dried flowers, cedar and mint all give this ethereal, wonderfully nuanced Barbaresco ton of subtlety. A kick of bright Nebbiolo acids and tannins give energy and shape. |
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Piedmont | 10 | 94 (VN) | HK$4,750.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2017 Barbaresco Montestefano is open-knit and radiant, which makes it a terrific choice for drinking now and over the next 15-20 years. Sweet tobacco, cedar, spice and leather are some of the many notes that grace the 2017, a wine that marries the natural intensity of the year with the super-classic style that is the house signature. Grippy but well balanced tannins round out the persistent finish. |
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Piedmont | 41 | 91 (VN) | HK$4,275.00 | |||||
Vinous (91)The 2018 Barbaresco Montestefano shows the lighter style of the year. Sweet perfumed and nuanced, the 2018 is an attractive, easygoing wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Dried cherry, mint, cedar and tobacco. All of the house signatures are present, but in a decidedly smaller scaled style. In exchange, the 2018 will drink nicely right out of the gate. I would not push my luck on aging. |
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Piedmont | 49 | 93+ (VN) | HK$4,275.00 | |||||
Vinous (93+)Just bottled about a month before my visit, the 2019 Barbaresco Montestefano immediately shows the pedigree of the year in its breadth and overall substance. Aromatically it is quite closed, but that is not at all surprising. Behind that, there is good depth and plenty of character. As always, the Barbaresco here has that gently oxidative character that is the house signature. |
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Piedmont | 2 | - | HK$4,160.00 | |||||
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Piedmont | 5 | - | HK$2,555.00 | |||||
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Renowned for its impeccable character, the Rivetto Barbaresco Marcarini 2018 is a rich expression of the fine traditions of Rivetto winery. Nestled in the enviable region of Piedmont, Italy, this vino is fruit of Nebbiolo grapes, meticulously cultivated and hand-harvested with dedication. Its exceptional texture and taste are achieved through 24 months of maturation in large Slavonian oak barrels. Showcasing a bright carmine hue in the glass, this garnet-edged beauty delivers a tantalising bouquet of rose petals, ripe red cherries, and subtle hints of earthy truffle. Its compelling palate is layered with fine tannins, giving way to a lengthy finish with an alluring hint of spice. The exquisitely crafted Rivetto Barbaresco Marcarini 2018 stands as a testament to its producer's commitment to quality, transcending the remarkable heritage and values of Italian winemaking. This elegant wine echoes the best characteristics of Barbaresco, making it a treasured selection for fine wine connoisseurs. |
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Piedmont | 5 | - | HK$2,870.00 | |||||
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An extraordinary spectacle of expert craftsmanship, the Rivetto Barbaresco Marcarini 2019 is a mesmerising blend, emanating from the renowned vineyards of Piemonte in Italy. Bottle by Rivetto - a distinguished winery situated in Serralunga d'Alba - this selection speaks volumes of the Rivetto's 100-year legacy in innovative oenology. Accurately reflecting Piemonte's terrain, this wine showcases the sublime terroir of the Marcarini vineyard, poised elegantly between Neive and Treiso. Harvested by hand and aged for 30 months in oak barrels, followed by a further 10 months in the bottle, the 2019 vintage evokes bold expressions of Nebbiolo grapes. The resultant product is a harmonious medley: velvety palate, unerring balance, rich red fruit undertones enmeshed with undeniable notes of spicy undertones, culminating in exceptional ageing potential. In essence, the Rivetto Barbaresco Marcarini 2019 is a sensory journey, retaining a steadfast allegiance to its Italian heritage while transcending global expectations for fine, distinguished wines. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - | HK$1,215.00 | |||||
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Experience the richness of Italian wine-making with the 'Rizzi Barbaresco 2016'. This Nebbiolo-based wine hails from the esteemed Rizzi estate, located in the heart of the Piedmont region. These vineyards are known for their marl and clay-enriched soils, providing the ideal conditions for grape cultivation. Each batch of grapes is handpicked at optimal ripeness to ensure the finest quality. The 2016 vintage exhibits intricate layers of complexity. Intense yet ethereal, it hosts a tantalising bouquet of red cherries and roses, balanced by hints of spice and earthiness. Enticing tannins and a gentle acidity complement its robust structure, signifying the wine’s excellent ageing potential. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - | HK$4,580.00 | |||||
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As an esteemed connoisseur of fine wines, you will find that the Rizzi Barbaresco Boito Riserva 2008 perfectly exemplifies the craftsmanship and terroir of the celebrated region of Barbaresco, Italy. Created by the prestigious Rizzi winery, long renowned for their commitment to tradition and quality, this wine showcases the classic Nebbiolo grape variety in its pinnacle form. Each grape is handpicked from Rizzi's high altitude Boito Vineyard, nestled in calcareous and clay soils, ensuring a luscious depth of flavour. The wine undergoes a prolonged fermentation and maceration, before being refined in Slavonian oak barrels for 36 months, followed by a further year in the bottle. This meticulous process unfolds an expressive, full-bodied profile layered with hints of cherry, plum and truffles, carried by firm tannins and a notable acidity. Complex, balanced and finely tuned, the Rizzi Barbaresco Boito Riserva 2008 is an exceptional ambassador of Italy's esteemed viticulture heritage. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - | HK$5,065.00 | |||||
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An exceptional gem, the Rizzi Barbaresco Boito Riserva 2016 is a testament to the superior winemaking of Italy's renowned Rizzi estate. This stellar vintage derives from the prestigious Boito vineyard, situated on steep, south-facing slopes in the Treiso district of Piedmont. This artisanal wine represents Nebbiolo at its purest, having undergone a long maceration and 26 months in large Slavonian oak barrels. The result? A Barbaresco of unprecedented complexity and elegance. On the nose, you'll find hints of ripe cherries and sweet spices, while the palate is treated to harmonious hints of dark fruits, layered with structured tannins and a lingering finish. Its excellent ageing potential makes the Rizzi Barbaresco Boito Riserva 2016 an ideal choice for serious collectors and enthusiasts. Truly, it's a charismatic expression of an exceptional terroir and winemaking expertise, wrapped up in each elegant bottle. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - | HK$785.00 | |||||
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The Rizzi Barbaresco Nervo 2016, hailing from the esteemed wine region of Piedmont, Italy, is a veritable masterpiece from the highly respected Rizzi winery. This iconic Nebbiolo-based red boasts exquisite complexity, embodified by engrossing layers of red fruit, rose petal, mint, sweet pipe tobacco and anise. Expertly crafted by enologist Enrico Dellapiana, this sophisticated vintage adheres to time-honoured winemaking processes. The grapes are hand-picked and macerated before prolonged ageing in both large oak barrels and barriques, to develop its seamless structure and alluring, long finish. The Rizzi Barbaresco Nervo 2016 is a testament to Rizzi's uncompromising dedication to producing terroir-expressive wines of unrivalled finesse. The Nervo vineyard in Barbaresco is celebrated for producing crowning jewels in Piedmontese winemaking, and this exceptional vintage only heightens that reputation. Well-structured yet harmoniously balanced, the Rizzi Barbaresco Nervo 2016 is the epitome of elegance. A captivating choice for any discerning palate. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 99 (WE) | HK$3,155.00 | |||||
Wine Enthusiast (99)Enticing scents of fragrant blue flower, perfumed berry, new leather and camphor slowly take shape on this focused, fantastic red. Smooth, elegantly structured and savory, the palate boasts an understated finesse, delivering juicy strawberry, cranberry, star anise and an almost salty mineral note framed in taut, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps it well-balanced and gives it great aging potential. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 92 (VN) | HK$14,930.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)The 2017 Barbaresco Asili Vecchie Viti is quite closed and austere, almost shockingly so. It will be interesting to see if more Asili sensuality emerges over time. For now, the 2017 is very obviously on the severe side, with good energy, but less through the mid-palate. Sweet dried cherry, mint, chalk and dried herbs linger. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - | HK$10,300.00 | |||||
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Piedmont | 2 | - | HK$16,880.00 | |||||
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (WA) | HK$12,155.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (98)This is an incredibly elegant expression of Nebbiolo derived from a 0.22-hectare plot that was purchased in 1961. There is a crazy story behind the acquisition involving Luca's grandfather and the previous owner who apparently was especially unlucky at cards. The Roagna 2019 Barbaresco Asili Vecchie Viti is especially polished and fine with an almost glossy texture. This lucky vineyard is covered with a unique permaculture, including wild grasses. Luca Roagna does not till the land and he leaves that green regenerative cover crop untouched. The wine is lean and light in appearance, but again in typical Roagna fashion, the delicate look of the wine comes in contrast to the complexity, depth and power on offer. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (WA) | HK$20,175.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (98)This is an incredibly elegant expression of Nebbiolo derived from a 0.22-hectare plot that was purchased in 1961. There is a crazy story behind the acquisition involving Luca's grandfather and the previous owner who apparently was especially unlucky at cards. The Roagna 2019 Barbaresco Asili Vecchie Viti is especially polished and fine with an almost glossy texture. This lucky vineyard is covered with a unique permaculture, including wild grasses. Luca Roagna does not till the land and he leaves that green regenerative cover crop untouched. The wine is lean and light in appearance, but again in typical Roagna fashion, the delicate look of the wine comes in contrast to the complexity, depth and power on offer. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 95 (WA) | HK$5,530.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95)Drawing its fruit from a leased vineyard in Neive, the Roagna 2014 Barbaresco Albesani opens to a medium ruby color with pretty garnet highlights. The wine is redolent of dark fruit, dried cherry, tilled earth and black licorice. There is much more aromatic intensity here than you might expect given the rather subtle and nuanced appearance the wine makes in the glass. The soils in Albesani are fundamentally calcareous, and these conditions add to the perfumed and fragrant qualities you get here. Production for this wine is 230 cases (of 12 bottles each). |
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Piedmont | 2 | 93 (VN) | HK$5,585.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)The 2015 Barbaresco Albesani is gracious, floral and lifted, which is not common in Albesani, where the wines tend to be more powerful. Bright acids and lively tannins give the 2015 its shape and energy. This translucent, inviting Barbaresco has so much to offer. |
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