PastaWorks

PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO 2008 single vineyard riserva wines

Once again we are pleased to offer a limited supply of some of Italy's best wines, the single vineyard Barbareschi from the Produttori del Barbaresco. These are great wines, made entirely from the nebbiolo grape. As the following descriptions and notes from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate indicate, these are are among the best wines ever released by Produttori del Barbaresco

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #203 (Oct 2012): “Produttori del Barbaresco, one of the world’s top cooperatives, has been making terrific wines for five decades. As good as the wines were in the past my feeling was that at times the full potential of these sites – widely considered among the very best in Barbaresco – wasn’t being fully captured. The Produttori must have thought the same thing. Beginning in 2001, the Produttori began incentivizing their member growers to cultivate higher quality grapes. At the same time, the winery began a gradual process of rotating out their large 100‐hectoliter casks and replacing them with smaller 50 and 75‐hectoliter casks. The 2008 Riservas are the culmination of all of that work. I have been anxiously waiting to taste the Produttori’s 2008 Riservas since the end of that year’s harvest, when Managing Director Aldo Vacca told me the Riservas would almost certainly be bottled. Two recent tastings of the entire lineup were more than worth the wait. Simply put, these are the very best young Riservas I have ever tasted from the Produttori. The wines will require considerable patience, but they are stacked and packed with tremendous concentration of fruit allied to structure. It is a vintage Piedmont drinkers love to love, where the individual signatures of each terroir are clearly delineated. Best of all, the Riservas remain exceedingly fairly priced considering the quality of what is in the bottle. Congratulations to Aldo Vacca, longtime oenologist Gianni Testa and the entire team at Produttori del Barbaresco for this magnificent collection of 2008 Barbareschi.”

Barbaresco Asili Riserva 2008 “One of the absolute highlights in this portfolio of utterly amazing wines, the 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Asili possesses marvelous depth and richness, but also little of the early approachability and sexiness of Asili. With time in the glass, the wine’s inner perfume gradually emerges, but ultimately this is a Barbaresco to bury in the deepest corner of the cellar. Once again, the Produttori have done a fabulous job with the Asili. The 2008 has nerves of steel and a huge, never‐ending finish. It is by far the most imposing and structured Asili I have ever tasted from the Produttori. Anticipated maturity: 2018‐2048.” $51 per bottle. $103 for 1.5 magnum.

Barbaresco Muncagato Riserva 2008 “The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is arguably the most open and expressive of the 2008 Riservas. It presents a gorgeous soft core of fruit to match an open personality. Although I wouldn’t suggest opening any of the 2008 Riservas for pleasure anytime soon, readers who want to get an early look at the wines should start with the Muncagota. Sweet rose petals add nuance to the vibrant fruit on the structured finish. This is a great showing from the Muncagota. As a reminder, the Muncagota is the wine that was previously called Moccagatta, before the current set of vineyard‐naming conventions was introduced with the 2007 vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2018‐2038.” $46 per bottle.

Barbaresco Montefico Riserva 2008 “The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico hits the palate with a blast of fruit intermingled with copious acidity and pure structure. Montefico shares a boundary with Ovello, and shows many of the structural elements typically associated with that side, but with more depth in its fruit, probably because of the southern exposure. The high altitude of these parcels ensures there is plenty of freshness and vibrancy. The Montefico is dazzling, but it will require considerable patience. Anticipated maturity: 2020‐2048.” $49 per bottle.

Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva 2008 “The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is exquisite and harmonious from start to finish. Among the more structured 2008s, the Montestefano is the wine that most hides its tannin, as the fruit is intensely perfumed, rich and totally seductive. Today the Montestefano provides the illusion of being relatively accessible, but it is virtually certain to shut down in bottle. The 2008 boasts striking aromatics, seemingly endless layers of fruit and power to burn. Readers can think of the Montestefano as a synthesis of Montefico, Ovello and Rabaja. Not bad, to say the least. Anticipated maturity: 2018‐2048.” $49 per bottle. $97 for 1.5 magnum.

Barbaresco Ovello Riserva 2008“The Produttori’s 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is a reference point wine for the village, even if, in truth, Ovello is a fairly diverse zone with many exposures. Firm, steely tannins support a core of expressive fruit in this vibrant, energetic Barbaresco. The 2008 is going to require considerable patience, but it is striking, even today. Sweet floral notes reappear on the vivid, utterly breathtaking finish, adding lift, precision and vibrancy. This is a stunning wine from the Produttori. The style is built on tension, energy and focus; in other words, all the qualities Ovello is known for. Anticipated maturity: 2018‐2048.” $49 per bottle. $97 for 1.5 magnum.

Barbaresco Paje Riserva 2008 "The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Paje wraps around the palate with layers of dark fruit, spices and menthol. Today, the Paje is one of the more open of the 2008 Riservas, but there is plenty going on in the glass. Sweet floral and spiced notes add lift on the finish. As good as the Paje is, it also tends to shut down quickly in the glass. Anticipated maturity: 2018‐2048.” $46 per bottle.

Barbaresco Pora Riserva 2008 “Playing true to type, the 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is another of the more open wines in this vintage. But that is only in relative terms. Layers of expressive red fruit, crushed flowers and spices flesh out in this radiant Barbaresco. In most vintages the Pora is one of the more accessible of the Riservas when young. The close proximity of the vineyard to the Tanaro River results in a warm microclimate that ripens the fruit earlier than elsewhere. In 2008, though, the Pora packs a serious punch. The coolness of the late harvest comes through in a finish laced with considerable tension and minerality. This is easily one of the very best Poras I have ever tasted from the Produttori. Anticipated maturity: 2018‐2048.” $49 per bottle.

Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva 2008 “The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Rabaja is utterly magnificent in this vintage. Usually a powerhouse, the 2008 is incredibly refined to the point it seems to literally hover on the palate. It is a wine of exquisite grace and beauty. All the elements are in place. I could describe the aromas and flavors, but that would be doing this majestic Barbaresco a huge disservice. Ultimately, the 2008 Rabaja, is all about textural finesse and pure elegance. This is another breathtaking wine from the Produttori. A king among kings. Anticipated maturity: 2018‐2048.” $51 per bottle. $103 for 1.5 magnum bottle.

Barbaresco Rio Sordo Riserva 2008 “A picture perfect example of site, the 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is classic Rio Sordo. Medium in body, it possesses a sweet, open bouquet and a relatively medium‐bodied personality next to the rest of the wines in this range. A long, pointed finish rounds things out nicely. Overall, the 2008 is a pretty, nuanced wine with lovely detail, precision and class, if not quite the visceral thrill of the very finest wines. Anticipated maturity: 2016‐2038.” $46 per bottle.

Wine

Pastaworks specializes in Italian and Spanish wines, as well as hard to find wines from Oregon and points south. Our wine list contains over 950 selections. At the moment the web site showcases featured wines. In the future we plan to enter all of our inventory into the site. We are happy to guide you towards a fantastic wine to fit any occasion and budget. Please email to inquire about a specific wine and current inventory.

So Italy, France and Spain have been turning out phenomenal vintage after phenomenal vintage since our national economy has tanked, and the good old Greenback has the buying power of a Bulgarian Lev. What is the confirmed oenophile to do?

The obvious answer to the question is to shop at Pastaworks. In an effort to make great wine selection affordable, we scour our importer's catalogs looking for quality and value. Yes, Barolo and Barbaresco can be expensive, but there are plenty of pleasurable nebbiolos on the market that will satisfy your palate without requiring a loan.

Of course, if you desire a Barolo or Barbaresco to go with tonight’s dinner we are more than happy to make a recommendation.

And have no fear, if your budget permits you to buy in quantity, Pastaworks offers a 10% discount on purchases of 6 to 11 bottles, and 15% on purchases of 12 bottles or more.

Many of our featured wines are also available by the glass (and bottle) at Evoe, Pastaworks' eat-in spot.

For mor information, inquieries, etc., contact wine@pastaworks.com

• quantity discounts do not apply to already discounted bottles or close-outs.
  

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