2020 Montaribaldi Rio Sordo Barbaresco

The Barbaresco DOCG Rio Sordo is a red wine, aged for approximately 30 months in oak barrels, produced with Nebbiolo grapes from the Rio Sordo MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva) of the DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) area of ​​Barbaresco. The Rio Sordo is only made by Montaribaldi in the best years. The Barbaresco DOCG Rio Sordo is a very long-lived wine. Moreover, the conformation of the vineyard of origin gives it an excellent elegance. The 2020 vintage was a fantastic Barberesco year, or rather, for lovers of a classic Barberesco. Not too warm, not too cold, not too wet, allowing the Nebbiolo grapes to ripen quietly and long.

The Rio Sordo vineyard is located in the municipality of Barbaresco at an altitude of 270-290 meters above sea level. The vineyard faces south and west. The soil consists of fossilized marl—grayish-blue marl (variously sandy)—and is fine and calcareous. The Rio Sordo vineyard is one of the oldest in the region, planted in 1966. Old vines yield very little. Even then, it was planted very densely to maximize competition in the vineyard, encouraging deeper rooting.

The 100% Nebbiolo is a late-ripening grape variety. It was harvested between late September and the first fifteen days of October. Once at the winery, the grapes were destemmed and crushed. They were then placed in thermo-conditioned stainless steel tanks where alcoholic fermentation and maceration took place. This lasted for at least a week and a half at a temperature of 28-32°C. After fermentation, this top-quality Barberesco remained in contact with its lees for at least two months (temperature of 20-22°C) while malolactic fermentation was completed. The Barbaresco Rio Sordo was then aged for approximately 24 months in traditional 2,000-3,000 lt oak barrels. Finally, approximately three years after the harvest, the Barbaresco DOCG Rio Sordo was bottled and then spent another six months in the Montaribaldi cellars in Barberesco.

This Rio Sordo Barberesco is a magnificent wine. In the glass, it has a deep garnet red color with orange highlights. On the nose, it has intense aromas with hints of ripe fruit and spices, along with notes of cocoa and tobacco. On the palate, it has a very good structure: intense, fine, elegant, yet pleasantly tannic and fresh. Give this wine some time, as Nebbiolo always has robust acidity and hard tannins in its younger years. These will, with age, meld beautifully with the fruit. Its characteristics make it a perfect pairing with red and roasted meats, game, and savory aged cheeses. We always try to be objective, and this is a matter of personal taste, but for us, this is one of the finest Barberescos we've tasted and holds great promise for the future. The wine has everything: fruit, beautiful tannins, and good acidity, yet elegant and powerful at the same time. Serving temperature: 18°C ​​and serve in a large glass. We even prefer a Burgundy glass .

BAROLO VS BARBARESCO

Piedmont—synonymous with truffles, risotto, and, of course, delicious wines!—is considered one of Italy's finest wine regions. The local terrain, soil, and weather conditions produce some fantastic wines. Among the red wines, Barolo and Barbaresco are world-renowned, powerful, age-defying wines. Although Barolo and Barbaresco are made from the same grape, Nebbiolo, and produced in neighboring areas less than 10 miles apart, the wines of Barbaresco and Barolo share several distinct differences.

The Barbaresco region is located south of the Tanaro River, and due to its location, the region enjoys a slightly higher average temperature, allowing the Nebbiolo grape to ripen slightly earlier than in the Barolo region. The young tannins in a young Barbaresco are often not as harsh as those in Barolo, and under DOCG regulations, Barbaresco is permitted to be released for sale a year earlier than Barolo. The most striking difference between the two wines is that Barbaresco's tannins tend to soften more quickly, making the wine more accessible at a younger age than Barolo. The Barbaresco region is smaller than the Barolo region, with an annual production of approximately 35% of Barolo's, which means that Barbaresco is not as widely available on the market.

Montaribaldi Rio Sordo Barbaresco