Barbaresco Riserva Montefico PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO 2014

It was already known in the late 19th century that Nebbiolo in the Barbaresco area possessed characteristics very different from other parts of Piedmont. For this reason, Domizio Cavazza, then headmaster of the Royal Enological School of Alba, decided to gather several winegrowers and producers to found a cooperative winery that could produce a distinct wine.

It was precisely in 1894, the year in which the “Cantine Sociali di Barbaresco” were created, for the “production of luxury and table wines”. Initially composed of nine winegrowers, the cooperative began vinification. The cellars belonging to the estate of headmaster Domizio Cavazza himself were utilized. He, in agreement with the other members, chose to give the wine the same name as the village: Barbaresco.

The winery remained under Cavazza’s guidance until 1913, the year the headmaster passed away. Subsequently, the cooperative, after another seven years of activity, had to close in 1920, during the Fascist era. After the post-war period, however, it was the parish priest of Barbaresco, Don Fiorino Marengo, who in 1958 decided to take up the reins of the project initiated by Cavazza. Thus the village’s cooperative winery was re-established under the name “Produttori del Barbaresco”. About twenty winegrowers came together who, convinced of the quality of the Nebbiolo from their vineyards, chose to unite “for the qualification and guarantee of Barbaresco”.

From then until today, “Produttori del Barbaresco” has experienced years of great success, currently counts over fifty contributing members, and has approximately one hundred hectares of vineyards, exclusively planted with Nebbiolo.
Thanks to the constant dedication of all the winegrowers belonging to the cooperative, “Produttori del Barbaresco” has not only long been considered among the most prestigious wineries in the Piedmontese Langhe territory, but is even often cited as an example of one of the finest cooperatives in the entire world.

Tasting notes

A vintage of great structure, intense and ripe fruit, and excellent drinkability.

Full-bodied, structured wine with spicy fruit and an austere, very persistent finish.

Pairings: substantial first courses, meats, game, and cheeses.

Alc. 13.5% vol.

Vintage

Although the 2014 vintage can be described as one of the most challenging to manage for winegrowers across Italy and Europe, the final results were a pleasant surprise in the Langhe. In particular, the Barbaresco area was certainly a positive exception within a generally difficult landscape.

Temperatures

After a mild winter, spring followed a “normal” course with alternating cold spells and frequent rain. Summer continued with the same weather patterns; throughout June and July, there were numerous days with temperatures below seasonal averages and equally frequent precipitation. These rains were often highly localized and extremely intense. The amount of rainfall combined with relatively low temperatures created ideal conditions for the development of fungal diseases. More than ever, proper vineyard management and the timing of sanitary interventions were decisive in reaching maturity with healthy clusters. Summer thinning was also carried out primarily to eliminate rot risks at the source.

The weather improved in the second half of summer with good diurnal temperature variation, although rains, while decreasing in frequency, did not cease in almost all of the Langhe. The Barbaresco area was the exception. In fact, total precipitation here during the growing cycle was three times lower than the regional average and nearly half that of the Barolo area. In short, August and September in Barbaresco were dry, allowing for excellent ripening and grape health.

The harvest

The diurnal temperature variation in late September allowed for patience, and the Nebbiolo harvest began late—at least by the standards of the new millennium—on October 8th and concluded on the 22nd under perfect weather conditions.

The 2014 wine will be very similar to the 2013, a medium-bodied vintage capable of producing long-lived wines with excellent aromas and rich mineral notes.

Contiene solfiti