Produttori del Barbaresco : Ovello Riserva 2019

Tasting Notes and Serving Suggestions for the 2019 Ovello Riserva from Produttori del Barbaresco

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a deep ruby-red hue with purple highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals a complex, evocative bouquet, unfolding aromas of dark red fruits, damp forest floor, violet and new leather.

Palate

The attack is intense, majestically supple and fluid. The palate shows considerable richness, with flavors of ripe raspberry, black cherry and licorice, supported by fine-grained, firm tannins that form the backbone of the wine. Bright, invigorating acidity maintains balance despite the concentration of fruit and the imposing tannic structure. The finish is energetic and lightly spicy, with a delicate salinity and a juicy, finely textured length.

Food and wine pairings

This Barbaresco Riserva pairs remarkably well with red meats and game such as braised beef, lamb, wild boar or venison. It also goes beautifully with traditional Piedmontese dishes such as white truffle risotto, agnolotti or fonduta. Aged cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Vecchio or Gorgonzola also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello benefits from decanting for one to two hours before serving. It is best served at a temperature between 16 and 18°C in large, rounded stemmed glasses. This wine offers a cellaring potential of around 20 to 25 years from the vintage.

A Piedmont Barbaresco Riserva true to the expression of the Ovello terroir

The estate

Founded in 1958 by Don Fiorino Marengo and nineteen families of winegrowers, Produttori del Barbaresco stands as one of the most prestigious wine cooperatives in the world. Now led by Aldo Vacca as Managing Director since 1991, it brings together more than fifty winegrowing families overseeing 120 hectares of vineyards planted exclusively to Nebbiolo. From the very beginning, the cooperative distinguished itself through three revolutionary decisions: producing Barbaresco exclusively, requiring all members to deliver 100% of their Nebbiolo grapes, and rewarding quality rather than quantity. This philosophy of collective excellence has transformed Barbaresco into a benchmark destination for lovers of great Italian wines.

The vineyard

The Ovello vineyard lies at the northern end of the village of Barbaresco, at a high elevation ranging from 250 to 320 meters. Covering 20.30 hectares, it drops steeply toward the Tanaro River. Ovello’s key distinction lies in its limestone soils rich in clay, unlike several other Barbaresco vineyards with a higher limestone content. This greater proportion of clay, combined with a slightly cooler microclimate resulting from its altitude and its southwest and southeast exposures, gives the wine its distinctive character. The vineyard benefits from generous afternoon sunshine as well as cool breezes from the Tanaro River.

The vintage

The 2019 vintage in Piedmont proved to be classic and of high quality. After a prolonged winter lasting into February followed by a rainy spring, the high temperatures in June, combined with water reserves in the soil, created ideal conditions for growth. A heatwave from late June to early July was followed by more moderate temperatures alternating with rainfall. September brought near-perfect conditions for Nebbiolo ripening, with significant day-to-night temperature swings, critical for aromatic development and the preservation of acidity. Harvest began late, on October 8, and ended on October 18, allowing the grapes to reach optimal aromatic maturity. The vintage shows high sugar levels, a strong polyphenolic profile and high anthocyanin accumulation, ensuring wines with excellent color, solid structure and remarkable aging potential.

Winemaking and aging

The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello was vinified according to the traditional practices of Produttori del Barbaresco. Fermentation took place in stainless-steel tanks at 30°C, with 28 days of skin contact allowing full extraction of color, tannins and aromas. Malolactic fermentation was completed prior to aging. The wine was then aged in 25- to 50-hectoliter oak casks for a minimum of 30 months. The use of large casks rather than new barriques reflects the cooperative’s traditional philosophy, aiming to preserve the purity of terroir expression without imposing a new-oak signature.

Grape variety

100% Nebbiolo