2013 Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva

2013 Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva

The 2013 Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva is a lovely wine, produced by the Produttori del Barbaresco, the cooperative of smaller vintners in Barbaresco. A priest in Barbaresco founded the cooperative in 1958, recognising that the smaller producers only had a chance of surviving if they combined their forces, thus creating the critical mass to produce high quality Barbaresco. The Produttori del Barbaresco now joins some 51 vintners, altogether a total of more than 100 hectares. They produce around 500.000 bottles a year, 50% of which are basic Barbarescos, 20% Langhe Nebbiolo and 30% Barbaresco from the nine classical single-vineyard sites.

Terroir and Winemaking

Single-vineyard wines like this 2013 Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva are only produced in great vintages. The Montestefano vineyard has a total surface of 4.5 hectares, with south-south-east exposure. Its soil is calcareous limestone. 32 days of skin contact, fermentation at 30°C. Wines age for 36 months in oak barrels, followed by bottle aging of another 12 months. In other vintages, this may vary – the 2015 had only 9 months of bottle aging. The Produttori mark total number of bottles produced on the bottles (17.104 in this case, plus 1.448 Magnum bottles). Each bottle shows its individual number (this wine is 2.209). The Produttori del Barbaresco claim that the wine has a potential of 20 years, according to the data sheet.

Barbaresco vs Barolo

Like Barolo, Barbaresco is made 100% from the Nebbiolo grape. The Barbaresco region’s microclimate is a bit warmer than the Barolo region, consequently allowing the grapes to ripen a bit earlier. DOCG requirements for Barbaresco differ a bit from Barolo, taking into account that Barbaresco is ready for consumption earlier than a Barolo.

Description of the Wine

The 2013 Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva shows a ruby color of medium intensity, on the nose you discover complex aromas of black fruit, chocolate, leather and game. On the palate, the wine is dry, with medium acidity, good body, well integrated firm tannins. The finish is long and very pleasant. TBM 92 points. A lovely Barbaresco, certainly good to drink now but definitely with potential to develop further.

2013 Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva

2021 Langhe Nascetta

2021 Langhe Nascetta

2021 Langhe Nascetta by Diego Conterno is a white wine from Piemonte, made using the autochthonous Nascetta grape. The vineyard has a westerly exposition, below the winery in Monforte d’Alba. Diego Conterno comes from a famous winemaker family. At some point, he had a joint venture with his cousins Claudio and Guido Fantino, but he discontinued the JV in 2000 and started his own winery. The winery is small, it has 7,5 hectares. Harvest is carried out manually. The grapes are then cooled with dry ice, and undergo a maceration for 24 to 36 hours. Thereafter, the must ferments in steel tanks. Limited production of 5.300 bottles. Good ageing potential. Tasted at the Gerstl tasting in Sempach.

The 2021 Langhe Nascetta presents itself in a straw colour, slightly golden. In the nose, tropical fruit dominates – pineapple comes out clearly. Citrus notes as well, grapefruit grind. Slight herbal or flowery notes and a touch of mint. On the palate, it is dry, fruity with a touch of minerals, slight salinity. Good mouthfeel.

TBM 85 points.

 

2021 Langhe Nascetta
2021 Langhe Nascetta Diego Conterno