2016 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Don Fiorino Riserva [JD98][JS98][WS95][V94]

Producer: Produttori del Barbaresco
Region: Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
Varietal: Nebbiolo
Year: 2016 

Jeb Dunnuck, 98 Points 

"The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva will be available later this spring. It is introspective at the moment. Although it is concentrated with licorice, fresh black cherry, cedar, and black pepper. It is a more brooding wine but retains its style, with leather, red plum, and balsamic, and as it opens it shows more fresh apricot. It is going to be a wine to hold onto and or drink over the coming two to three decades." 

James Suckling, 98 Points 

"Incredible aromas of white truffle, meat, wet earth, lightly burnt orange peel and pure fruit. Medium-bodied and very compact, with a block of silky tannins that run through the palate and then come out at the end with a gorgeous texture. It’s very drinkable now, but will age wonderfully. This is a special release. They never made a serious blended riserva in their history." 

Kerin O'Keefe, 98 Points 

"A new edition to the winery’s already impressive lineup, the gorgeous Produttori del Barbaresco 2016 Don Fiorino Riserva stuns with its impeccable class, structure and youthful tension. Made with 50% grapes from the Produttori’s nine famous crus and 50% from other top sites (Basarin, Cottà, Cole, Fasèt and San Cristoforo), it boasts aromas and flavors of ripe raspberry, star anise, cake spice and almost salty mineral notes. An ode to the the parish priest who united 19 growers in 1958 and created the Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative, it’s linear, precise and still youthfully austere. Aged for thirty months in 15hl French casks, it’s extremely well balanced, with firm, refined tannins and fresh acidity." 

Wine Spectator, 95 Points 

"Rich, broad and spicy, exhibiting plum, cherry, tar, licorice and eucalyptus aromas and flavors. Offers muscle and grace, with intensity and persistence on the long finish." 

Vinous, 94 Points 

"The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva is a multi-vineyard bottling from the Produttori that blends lots from the nine vineyards that are bottled separately (except the Asili and Pajè because of low production) along with other holdings such as Cottà and Faset that aren’t bottled separately. It is a powerful, tannic wine that is going to need a ton of time to come around. Intellectually, the idea of blending fruit from numerous sites is appealing. In reality, I am not sure the blend is better than the best vineyard designates in a great vintage such as 2016, but time will ultimately tell. The Produttori last made a multi-vineyard Riserva in 1990. Needless to say, it will be fascinating to see how this ages. Drink: 2024-2036."  

Alcohol: 14.5% 

*Discounts do not apply to items like this one in the Fine & Rare category. Price and availability in store may vary.