2008 Barbaresco Ovello
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Mid ruby. Lots of power and interest on the nose. Autumn mulch and a bit of evolution. Sweet palate entry almost masks the tannins. This is a very substantial wine with no shortage of tannin. Set for the long term with some bonfire and ash on the finish. (JR)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Medium red, more saturated than the Albesani. Very ripe aromas of candied cherry, truffle and earth, plus a suggestion of stewed fruits. Then sweeter and fresher in the mouth than the nose suggests but youthfully unforthcoming today. This midweight finishes with slightly granular, slightly drying tannins. Comes off as a bit awkward today: does it have the mid-palate stuffing to buffer those tannins?
Layers of sweet, Pinot-like fruit emerge effortlessly from the 2008 Barbaresco Ovello. Incredibly refined from the very first taste, the Ovello impresses for its overall balance and sense of harmony. Expressive floral notes reappear on the finish in a Barbaresco that is unusually refined for this site, where the wines are typically a bit more taut. Elements of the sweetness of 2009 and the structure of 2010 linger on the perfumed, silky finish.
Layers of sweet, Pinot-like fruit emerge effortlessly from the 2008 Barbaresco Ovello. Incredibly refined from the very first taste, the Ovello impresses for its overall balance and sense of harmony. Expressive floral notes reappear on the finish in a Barbaresco that is unusually refined for this site, where the wines are typically a bit more taut. Elements of the sweetness of 2009 and the structure of 2010 linger on the perfumed, silky finish. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028. Proprietor Renato Vacca continues to show he has the magic touch. I would be thrilled to drink any of these magnificent wines. Vacca has decided to release his 2009 single-vineyard Barbareschi before the 2008s, as he feels those wines need another year in bottle. I hope readers take the time to check out these fabulous wines. Along with Sottimano, Gaja, Pelissero and a handful of others, Cantina del Pino is one of the very few estates in Barbaresco where every single wine is fabulous. Importers: Artisan Wine, Norwalk, CT; tel. (203) 866-4552; Cavatappi Distribution, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 282-5226; Diamond Wine Merchants, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 567-9897; Ideal Wine and Spirit Co., Medford, MA; tel. (781) 395-3300