Produttori del Barbaresco "Ovello Cru" Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy
Introduction:
The 2020 Produttori del Barbaresco “Ovello” Riserva is a commanding Nebbiolo from one of Piedmont’s most cherished crus, blending intensity, structure, and elegance into a wine built for serious aging.
Terroir:
Sourced from the Ovello cru within the Barbaresco appellation, the vineyards are planted on calcareous-clay soils with clayey marl and a cooler exposure, giving the wine piercing acidity, firm tannin structure, and a mineral backbone.
Appearance:
Bright garnet-ruby colour with youthful clarity and slight amber tinges at the rim.
Nose:
Complex aromas of wild cherry, marasca, violet, leather, and underbrush combine with hints of tar, dried herbs, and crushed stone, signalling a mature and layered profile.
Palate:
Full-bodied and structured. A core of cherry, plum, and raspberry fruit is underpinned by firm fine-grained tannins, vibrant acidity and serious mineral tension. Secondary notes of licorice, tobacco leaf, iron-filings and cedar emerge mid-palate.
Finish:
Very long, with lingering dark fruit, chalky tannins, smoked herbs and a cool mineral echo. The finish remains fresh and poised, heralding a long cellar future.
Food Pairing Suggestions:
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Meat dish: Braised beef cheeks in Barbera-and-Nebbiolo jus or roasted lamb with rosemary and garlic
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Vegetarian option: Wild mushroom risotto with Parmigiano-Reggiano or truffle-tagliatelle
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Cheese pairing: Aged Pecorino Toscano or a mature Fontina — cheeses with depth and savour to match the wine’s intensity
Overall Impression:
The 2020 Ovello Riserva is a superb expression of modern Barbaresco: deep in character, intense yet refined, capable of rewarding long-term aging. Drinkable now with decanting, but truly designed to evolve over the next 10-15 years (or more) into something remarkable.
Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): ~14.5%
Farming Practices: Traditional
Producer Name: Produttori del Barbaresco
Old World / New World: Old World
Country of Origin: Italy
Region: Barbaresco Riserva DOCG (Cru Ovello), Piedmont
Grape Varietals: 100% Nebbiolo
Vintage: 2020
Wine Style: Dry red; Riserva Nebbiolo; structured, serious and ageworthy
Winemaking Techniques: Extended maceration on skins; aged in large Slavonian and French oak casks; minimal filtration before bottling
Pack Size: 750 mL
Container Style: Standard Bordeaux-style glass bottle
Closure Style: Cork
Jeb Dunnuck: Rated 95+ Points
Review Date: 05/2025
The nose of the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello offers a more woodsy profile, with aromas of pine, leather, black raspberries, sweet floral perfume, and licorice candies. The palate is compact and nervous, with dark mineral accents, refreshing, ripe acidity, and a long finish. It is going to benefit from another couple of years and show its best over the following 10, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see it evolve for 15-20 years either. (AF) 95+
Kerin O'Keefe: Rated 95 points
Review Date: 09/2024
Red berry, forest floor, new leather and spice shape the fragrant nose on the fantastic 2020 Ovello Riserva. Showing the structure derived from the cru’s predominately clayey soils, it has a backbone of firm but refined tannins that accompany juicy Marasca cherry, tangerine and spicy notes of star anise.
Wine Advocate: Rated 95 Points
Review Date: 01/2025
The Ovello vineyard has some northern exposures and generally represents a cooler growing site. You can expect intense fruit flavors and more prominent tannins as a result. The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello fits the bill. Vine growth starts much later and usually lasts longer to produce dark intensity and bold aromas in the wines. In the cold years, the tannins can be aggressive, but in the hot years like 2020, they show better balance. This wine offers ferrous notes of iron and rusty nail followed by cherry-driven sweetness. (ML)
Vinous: Rated 95 points
Review Date: 10/2024
The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is a massive, packed wine. Graphite, crushed rocks, dried herbs and cedar open first. Ovello tends to produce a more linear style of Barbaresco, and that is very much the case here as well. However, the 2020 also possesses notable depth and layers in the mid-palate. It's a gorgeous wine in the making. (AF)
Wine Spectator: Rated 95 points
Review Date: 04/2025
Aromas and flavors of hay, cherry, raspberry and rose are the hallmarks of this elegant, succulent red. A fine layer of tannins provides lift, and the flavors are well-delineated through the mineral-infused finish. Shows terrific intensity and tension. (BS)
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