Barbaresco DOCG Montefico Riserva Produttori del Barbaresco 2001

Lot presentation

Barbaresco DOCG Montefico Riserva Produttori del Barbaresco 2001

The wine

Montefico is one of the nine historic crus of Barbaresco, each vinified separately by the iconic Produttori del Barbaresco. The Nebbiolo vines lie in the southern part of the appellation on steep, south-facing slopes at around 300 metres in altitude. The marl-limestone soils, rich in clay and sand, lend structure and complexity to the wine. Manual harvests take place in late October to ensure optimal ripeness. In the winery, fermentation follows traditional methods, proceeding spontaneously over a long 25-day maceration. The wine is then aged for 36 months in large Slavonian oak foudres (large tuns) before bottling and further maturation in the cellar.
The wine shows a delightful garnet hue. The intense, layered nose reveals black cherry, dried plum, wilted rose and tobacco, lifted by balsamic and spice notes. The palate is generous, firmly structured and tannic, yet refined in its power, leading into a mineral, spicy finish typical of long-lived Barbaresco.

The story of the Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative winery dates back to the late nineteenth century. It was in 1894, that Domizio Cavazza, director of Alba’s Royal Oenological School and a resident of Barbaresco, established the village’s first wine cooperative. Known as Cantine Sociali, it brought together nine local growers and landowners to produce wine in the cellars of Barbaresco Castle. Unfortunately, the cooperative to close due to economic difficulties during the 1930s. Several years later, in 1958, the village priest came to the aid of the struggling producers. Bringing 19 of them together, he founded Produttori del Barbaresco. During the first three years, the wines were actually made in the basement of the village church. Today, the cooperative brings together 51 winemakers, all committed to promoting both Barbaresco and the village itself by producing Barbaresco exclusively. This winemaking cooperative cultivates more than 100 hectares of Nebbiolo. Each family farms its own parcels according to traditional, often centuries-old practices, before delivering the grapes to the winery for vinification. The cooperative’s philosophy is perhaps best summed up by Domizio Cavazza himself: “If you want to taste Barbaresco, do not ask for a small sample to be sent to your home address. Buy a case from a single vintage or, better still, a mixed case containing several vintages. That is the best way to understand Barbaresco.”