2010 Barbaresco Riserva
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Tasting notes
This wine is made with the oldest vines at Sottimano's disposition and has a very exclusive availability at only 900 bottles produced. Two months of maceration, exposure to clay and three and a half years on the lees bring out notes of mint and balsamic herbal tones in this pretty expression. The 2010 Barbaresco Riserva is a very transparent wine with immense power, beauty and finesse. There are mineral shadings and beautiful details of licorice and a dusting of truffle: altogether an elegant expression of this terroir. This Riserva is set to appear again in 2013, 2015 and 2016. The first of those is still a year away from release as of this April 2019 tasting, so keep an eye out for it. By the way, I had reviewed this same wine last year, but I've decided to go ahead and print this double, more optimistic review regardless.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2010 Barbaresco Riserva emerges from old vines in both Currà and Pajoré. Deep, dense and exquisitely layered in the glass, the 2010 offers a magnificent interplay of dark fruit, seamless contours and dazzling textural richness. Scents of rose petal, mint, dried herbs and lavender add nuance to the super-expressive Nebbiolo fruit. The finish boasts considerable power married to exquisite finish. This is a wonderfully complete, captivating Barbaresco from Sottimano. All the elements are in the right place. The Riserva spent a total of two and half years in oak with no racking until racking, when the blend was put together.
A red with plum and flower aromas and flavors. Full-bodied but bright and lively. Firm tannins. A pretty wine with tension and finesse. Lovely now but will improve with age. Drink or hold.
Classic aromas of mature Nebbiolo – tea leaf and roses and still with red fruit. Pretty dry on the palate. Chalky, needs food and/or time but doesn’t seem to have the fruit depth of the 2012s just tasted. Rather hard work. (JH)