Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello Riserva 2017

Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello Riserva 2017 is a classic, site-driven Barbaresco from one of the appellation’s most historic crus. Sourced from the high, breezy Ovello vineyard, this Riserva balances Barbaresco’s trademark finesse with the power and warmth of the 2017 vintage. With just under 18,000 bottles produced, it offers serious cellar-worthy Nebbiolo at a level of craftsmanship usually reserved for much rarer wines. Ovello is known for giving Barbaresco its nervy structure and vivid aromatics, and this 2017 delivers both in generous measure. It stands out for its intensity of blackcurrant, wild cherry, tobacco, rusty iron and licorice, carried on a silk-smooth yet firmly structured frame and 15% alcohol that promises long aging. As part of Produttori del Barbaresco’s legendary line-up of single-cru Riserve, it also represents a piece of modern Piedmontese wine history.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2017 Ovello Riserva shows a deep garnet core with brick-tinged edges, already hinting at Nebbiolo’s traditional evolution, yet still vibrant and youthful. Swirl the glass and you’ll find lifted, expressive aromatics: ripe blackcurrant, wild cherry and plum supported by notes of dried rose petals, tobacco leaf, anise, iron, and a subtle hint of forest floor and leather emerging with air. On the palate, the wine is intense yet finely etched, with a focused, linear profile. The attack is silky, then quickly framed by firm, chalky tannins that are characteristic of Ovello’s cooler, calcareous soils. Flavors of dark berry compote, sour cherry, licorice, sweet spice and a slight savory, ferrous edge unfold in layers. The acidity is bright and mouthwatering, keeping the 15% alcohol in perfect balance and giving the wine lift and length. This 2017 has the structure and concentration to age gracefully for 15–20 years from vintage, developing more truffle, tar, dried herb and leather complexity over time while the tannins resolve into a beautifully harmonious, seamless texture.

Production
Ovello is one of Barbaresco’s most celebrated crus, sitting at higher altitude on a ridge of limestone and clay with sandy components, facing mainly south and southwest. This combination of poorer, calcareous soils and excellent exposure yields Nebbiolo with intense aromatics, firm tannins and vibrant acidity. Produttori del Barbaresco harvests by hand, parcel by parcel, selecting only the best Nebbiolo grapes in suitable vintages for their Riserva bottlings. In the cellar, grapes are destemmed and undergo a traditional, long maceration to extract color, tannin and the full aromatic spectrum of Nebbiolo. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled tanks, after which the wine is aged for an extended period in large neutral oak botti—typically Slavonian oak—to preserve purity of fruit and terroir expression rather than imprinting strong oak flavors. The Ovello Riserva then rests further in bottle before release, ensuring that structure, fruit and secondary notes begin to knit together before it reaches consumers.

Food & Serving
Ovello Riserva 2017 is an excellent partner for richly flavored, savory dishes that can stand up to its structure and complexity. Think braised beef cheeks, osso buco, slow-cooked lamb shanks, or roast game birds such as pigeon or guinea fowl. Classic Piedmontese pairings like tajarin with white truffle, brasato al Barolo, mushroom risotto or aged cow’s milk cheeses (Castelmagno, Parmigiano Reggiano, mature Pecorino) are particularly compelling. For optimal enjoyment, serve at 16–18°C (about 60–64°F). In its youth, this wine benefits from generous aeration: decant for 2–3 hours to allow the aromatics to unfold and the tannins to soften. As it ages and tertiary notes emerge, a shorter decant of 45–60 minutes is often enough, primarily to let the wine breathe and to separate it from any natural sediment.

Producer
Produttori del Barbaresco is one of Italy’s most respected cooperative wineries and a reference point for Nebbiolo worldwide. Officially founded in 1958 (with roots going back to a growers’ cantina established in 1894), the estate unites dozens of small growers in and around the village of Barbaresco under a single, quality-focused banner. This model has enabled them to farm and vinify some of the appellation’s best crus—Ovello, Rabajà, Asili and others—with remarkable consistency and precision. Over the decades, Produttori has become synonymous with traditionally made Barbaresco: long macerations, aging in large neutral oak, and an unwavering focus on terroir expression. Their range of single-vineyard Riserve, produced only in top vintages, is now considered a benchmark for collectors and enthusiasts, regularly receiving critical acclaim and helping cement Barbaresco’s status as one of the great classic wine regions of the world.

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