These Barbarescos are elegant, refined and graceful. Each wine has been carefully chosen as a representative of the magnificent terroir. Compared to Barolo, they are also more approachable in their youth (not to mention greater value for money). But make no mistake, these are superlative wines. Each offers an accented interpretation of the region, appellation and the variety, and all speak the refined language of Barbaresco.
In this pack, you receive one each of the following: BERA Barbaresco ‘Serraboella’ DOCG 2016 SOTTIMANO Curra, Barbaresco DOCG 2014 CERETTO Bernardot, Barbaresco DOCG 2018 OLEK BONDONIO Roncagliette, Barbaresco 2018 MICHELE CHIARLO Asili , Barbaresco DOCG 2017 TENUTE CISA ASINARI DEI MARCHESI DI GRESY Martinenga , Barbaresco DOCG 2017
Whoa, this is a wine with great potential, but the 2014 Barbaresco Currá needs at least another two years to just chill out. It's way too tightly wound at the moment. This vineyard is right next door to Cottà, but the Currà (the accents here reflect the real spelling of these MGA crus) is a whole different animal altogether. The soil that lies underground accounts for the difference. This Barbaresco is closed and hard if released too early, and this vintage definitely needs more time to show that elegance, which is bound to be remarkable when it does. The fabric of the mouthfeel is different, to say the least, but there is much more complexity as well. Some 3,000 bottles were made.
95 points, Wine Advocate (June 2019)
Bright aromatics and veins of incisive tannin give the 2014 Barbaresco Currà its energy and drive. Like all of these 2014s, the Currà has a bit more volume and textural depth than is typically the case, along with sweeter, riper tannins. To be released in 2018.
94 points, Vinous (October 2017)
This wine's truffle, underbrush, dark berry and baking spice aromas take center stage. Still young and primary, it shows unripe red berry, sage, ground clove, truffle and star anise flavors on the palate, structured with bracing tannins and vibrant acidity. Give it time to fully come together. Drink 2021–2028.
92 points, Wine Enthusiast (November 2017)
Dense and tightly wound, with a kernel of ripe cherry and plum fruit locked within the beefy tannins. It's difficult to see where this is going today, but all the components are in the right proportions. Wild herb and earth accents add detail. Best from 2024 through 2043.
93 points, Wine Spectator (February 2020)
With fruit from Treiso, the Ceretto 2018 Barbaresco Bernadot shows a graceful, mid-weight approach to the vintage with red and purple fruits that are crisp and fresh. The bouquet is a sounding board for cassis, sour cherry, camphor ash, crushed stone and powdered licorice. Bernadot reveals a firm textural fiber and lasting, silky intensity.
94 points, Wine Advocate (June 2021)
The 2018 Barbaresco Bernardot comes across as relatively quiet in this vintage, but that is the personality of the year. There is good depth and creaminess, and yet the volume is very much dialed down. Dark cherry, spice, leather and mint build into the understated finish.
92 points, Vinous (February 2022)
Well defined cherry, licorice, soy and tar aromas and flavors mark this fresh and balanced red. Dense, with tar and earth notes echoing on the long finish. Best from 2024 through 2036.
92 points, Wine Spectator (April 2022)
Barbaresco. Tasted blind. Lustrous ruby. Captivating cherry and wild-strawberry nose with just a suggestion of sweet spice. Rich tangy, youthful cherry fruit and gripping tannins. Long and animating.
17+ points, JancisRobinson.com (June 2021)
The 2017 Barbaresco Asili is a smooth and polished expression of Nebbiolo from a warm vintage. The wine opens to fresh aromas of black currant and wild berry with tilled earth, sweet licorice and campfire ash. This Barbaresco shows good structure and a streamlined approach that glides with clear intensity over the palate.
94 points, Wine Advocate (October 2020)
Another big, rich Barbaresco with chewy tannins and lots of ripe-strawberry character. It’s full-bodied with ripe and juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Needs time to mellow.
93 points, JamesSuckling.com (June 2020)
The 2017 Barbaresco Asili is dense and ample in the glass. This is a style that favors volume over what might be called a more typical expression of place. Even so, all the elements meld together effortlessly. Chiarlo presents a decidedly plush, fruity expression of Asili with the 2017. Plum, mocha, leather, tobacco and spice all build into the substantial, resonant finish.
94 points, Vinous (October 2020)
Fragrant and loaded with personality, this opens with heady scents of violet, camphor, tilled earth and wild berry. On the savory palate, taut, fine-grained tannins accompany dried black cherry, crushed raspberry, thyme and star anise. It closes on an almost salty note.
95 points, Wine Enthusiast (October 2020)
This wine pours from the bottle with a light ruby or garnet color. The Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Gresy 2017 Barbaresco Martinenga puts on a fascinating aromatic performance that starts off with candied fruit (like cherry Sucrets) followed by a touch of medicinal or balsamic herb that adds some Nebbiolo context to the larger picture. The wine shifts quickly, moving away from those initial aromas to embrace grounded earthy tones of chalk, limestone, cola and zesty ginger. The wine's pretty evolution in the glass and those subtle transitions are very attractive. The mouthfeel is fine and delicate, and the tannin is well tucked in and silky. This production is 14,412 bottles strong, to be released in September 2020.
94+ points, Wine Advocate (July 2020)
Camphor, forest berry, rose and exotic spice form the inviting nose Full-bodied and enveloping, the palate features dried cherry, tobacco and mocha before close-grained tannins grip the assertive close. Drink 2022–2029.
93 points, Wine Enthusiast (November 2020)
