2020 Barbaresco
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Tasting notes
This is a gorgeous wine. Lifted and floral, delicate violet and rose aromatics soar from the glass, complementing the vibrant blueberry and red cherry fruit. Intense yet perfumed, this combines delicacy and power with its bright fruit and floral tones. There’s a crushed-rock mineral backbone and silken texture to the wine, the tannins incredibly fine and seamless. The 2020s are generally open and approachable – and that is clear here, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it isn’t a serious offering, as it will only offer more over the next two decades.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Ripe red in color, the 2020 Barbaresco boasts a nice balance of purity and ripeness, with lifted spice notes of dried cherries, peppercorn, pine, and anise. An impressive Barbaresco, it’s medium-bodied and offer sanguine richness and yet has a weightless feel. It’s propelled forward through the palate, with bright orange peel notes, vibrant acidity, fine tannins, and a long finish. It has more richness in this vintage as well as having a lot of finesse and elegance to offer. It’s an exceptional entry Barbaresco. Drink 2026-2040. As one of the most important and quality-minded co-operatives in the world, Produttori del Barbaresco is currently composed of 51 growers across Barbaresco. Founded in 1894 by Domizio Cavazza, the headmaster of the Royal Enological School of Alba, it was originally a collection of nine growers. Today the operations are managed by Aldo Vacca, who was formerly the assistant to Angelo Gaja for 15 years.
Bottled March 2023. Rich, sweet nose. Very slightly animal and soft tannins. Juicy! (JR)
The 2020 Barbaresco is a lovely, harmonious wine that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Forward fruit and soft curves are perhaps a bit uncharacteristic for young Barbaresco but that also make the wine very enjoyable. Juicy red cherry/plum fruit, rose petal, spice, cedar, mint and tobacco all meld together in the glass. Classicists will probably prefer other vintages, but it's hard not to like the 2020 for its charming, effusive personality. At the same time, aeration brings out greater aromatic presence and a good deal of structure, too.
About the producer
Produttori del Barbaresco is one of the world’s finest wine cooperatives, famed for crafting beautiful wines at very reasonable prices. With a heritage dating back over five decades, it rivals Piedmont’s top estates and is celebrated for producing truly magnificent Nebbiolo.