Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco 2020

If you seek out one name in Barbaresco, Produttori is the one. This legendary producer makes nine single-vineyard crus from some of the best Nebbiolo sites in Barbaresco, but this wine – their so-called “normale” is what really put them on the map. 95 points and the generous, pleasure-inducing 2020 vintage is what we have today for a heart-palpitating $37.95. This just arrived, and we HAD to share immediately!

The Produttori del Barbaresco, founded in 1958, is perhaps the wine world’s most famous co-op. Fifty-one members controlling over 100 hectares of the best Nebbiolo vineyards in Barbaresco. These wines have long stood as the benchmark for the region – both stylistically and qualitatively. Their “normale” has always been a standard bearer for Barbaresco wine – widely regarded as the most consistent wine vintage to vintage, over the decades, anywhere in the world. Seasoned wine lovers know – you simply can’t go wrong with Produttori!

Great scores are on par with the previous year’s fantastic 2019 vintage, yet the wines are near opposites in style. While 2019 is an enduring and powerfully taut vintage that will show best after years (even decades) in cellars, the 2020 is a pleasurable, amiable sip that offers pure and vivid fruit, and plenty of concentration – with an open and friendly aspect that makes this simply stunning even now. Barbaresco truly thrived in 2020, the second in a string of three exceptional, albeit very different vintages. At First Bottle’s fantastic pricing, this is a rare chance to buy a Barbaresco icon that can be enjoyed both now and throughout the next decade. That is 100% the plan we’re taking personally with this wine, and we can’t recommend enough that you do the same!

Aromas of roses, peonies, and sandalwood arise from the glass, with fresh-turned earth, and sweet balsamic notes lingering close behind. Overall, this release offers a rich and full style for Barbaresco – showcasing an ample and prodigious vintage – but nevertheless reigned in by crushed limestone and wet asphalt accents, and bright and bountiful cherries, blueberries, and sweet anise sensations. A tart and bright wave of cranberries and blood oranges extends this impressively, culminating in a charcoal dust and graphite-driven finish. A brief decant of 30 minutes or so allows the wooded cloak that protects this young wine to lighten and integrate considerably, and then all bets are off! We finished this in record time… and you just might, too!

PAIRING IDEAS: Give this a go with a fusion twist – classic red wine braised short ribs but with a broth spiced in a decidedly Vietnamese flavor palate – mint, coriander, basil, and lemongrass, along with spices like star anise, cinnamon, and ginger. The spice resonance in both the wine and the dish will take this to the next level, guaranteed!