Produttori del Barbaresco, Barbaresco Riserva 'Don Fiorino', 2016

An ode to Barbaresco’s late parish priest Don Fiorino Marengo who in 1958 united 19 growers and founded the Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative cellar, the wine is a blend of grapes from the best vineyard sites. 98 points Jeb Dunnuck  The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva will be available later this spring. It is introspective at the moment. Although it is concentrated with licorice, fresh black cherry, cedar, and black pepper. It is a more brooding wine but retains its style, with leather, red plum, and balsamic, and as it opens it shows more fresh apricot. It is going to be a wine to hold onto and or drink over the coming two to three decades. (AF)   (5/2023)  98 points James Suckling  Incredible aromas of white truffle, meat, wet earth, lightly burnt orange peel and pure fruit. Medium-bodied and very compact, with a block of silky tannins that run through the palate and then come out at the end with a gorgeous texture. It’s very drinkable now, but will age wonderfully. This is a special release. They never made a serious blended riserva in their history.   (12/2022)   98 points Kerin O'Keefe  A new edition to the winery’s already impressive lineup, the gorgeous Produttori del Barbaresco 2016 Don Fiorino Riserva stuns with its impeccable class, structure and youthful tension. Made with 50% grapes from the Produttori’s nine famous crus and 50% from other top sites (Basarin, Cottà, Cole, Fasèt and San Cristoforo), it boasts aromas and flavors of ripe raspberry, star anise, cake spice and almost salty mineral notes. An ode to the the parish priest who united 19 growers in 1958 and created the Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative, it’s linear, precise and still youthfully austere. Aged for thirty months in 15hl French casks, it’s extremely well balanced, with firm, refined tannins and fresh acidity.   (5/2023)   95 points Wine Spectator  Rich, broad and spicy, exhibiting plum, cherry, tar, licorice and eucalyptus aromas and flavors. Offers muscle and grace, with intensity and persistence on the long finish. (BS)   (4/2023)