Barbaresco Riserva 2016 vintage report plus top-scoring wines
Aldo Fiordelli reports on the 2016 Riservas finding a five-star vintage with some outstanding wines especially when exploring the various MGAs.
Nebbiolo is properly considered one of the grape varieties with the longest growing season.
The 2016 vintage, according to the consorzio for Barolo, Barbaresco, Alba, Langhe and Dogliani, ‘was certainly one of the longest-lasting vintages in recent years’.
It’s possible to see in this the complexity achieved by the Barbaresco Riserva 2016 wines.
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for Aldo’s top-rated Barbaresco Riserva 2016 wines
Though the Barolos from this vintage won’t be released for another year due to differing minimum ageing requirements, producers are now releasing their Barbaresco Riserva from the 2016 vintage.
The 2016 season
‘Signs of the vegetative cycle being so long first appeared at the beginning of the season, when the mild temperatures and low rainfall in January and early February confirmed the trend that we were already seeing during the first part of the winter,’ reported the consorzio.
Spring saw a considerable amount of rainfall. This phenological delay continued until the end of the summer, which began slowly but extended until the end of September. The harvest date in 2016 was back to classic, old fashioned timing.
What are the Barbaresco Riserva 2016 wines like to drink?
Alcohol levels are lower than 2015 and the balance shines from the vineyards to the wines.
Harvesting later than in the warmer years is – if possible – more crucial for Barbaresco than for Barolo, because it is generally picked before the latter, as was the case in 2016.
If there were a vintage to explore the various MGAs, 2016 is the one.
Martinenga, Asili and Rabajà are the crus to look out for.
If there’s a vintage to hold on to for ageing, 2016 is also the one: some wines are still not easy to drink but time will help them resolve.
Several producers consider 2016 pretty similar to 2013, but with less pulp over the bones.
For others the 2016s might appear too extracted. However, the balance and ripeness of the vintage coupled with the more graceful winemaking of the most up-to-date producers has given rise to some outstanding wines.
It’s without doubt a hailed, five-star year.
Aldo’s top-rated Barbaresco Riserva 2016 wines:
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Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Grésy, Camp Gros Martinenga Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
The Camp Gros 2016 shines for its crystalline aromatic purity: light and leafy, it has pomegranate, camphor, violet and balsamic depth. Firm but polished, the...
2016
Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di GrésyBarbaresco
Carlo Giacosa, Luca Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
An extremely savoury Riserva with woodland smokiness, dried cherry and strawberry fruit, and floral and balsamic tones. The attack is firm and assertive, followed by...
2016
Carlo GiacosaBarbaresco
Cascina Luisin, Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
Cascina Luisin is a very classic estate on the Strada Rabajà in Barbaresco. Old vines averaging 45 years and low yields of 40q/ha make for...
2016
Cascina LuisinBarbaresco
Ugo Lequio, Gallina Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
Gallina is a south-facing exposure, perfect for a classic vintage such as 2016, in one of the most structured MGAs in Neive. Ugo Lequio's vineyards...
2016
Ugo LequioBarbaresco
Albino Rocca, Ronchi Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
The beauty of the 2016 vintage is its restraint in youth, but its not easy to approach. It's a traditional vintage which might appeal to...
2016
Albino RoccaBarbaresco
Castello di Neive, Albesani Santo Stefano Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
Within the Albesani MGA, Santo Stefano represents the flagship of Castello di Neive's vineyards. Bright ruby with a garnet rim in the glass, it's focused...
2016
Castello di NeiveBarbaresco
Produttori del Barbaresco, Pora Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
Since 1958, 50 families have come together in this cooperative in order to share their grape production, making some of the best Barbaresco wines from...
2016
Produttori del BarbarescoBarbaresco
Cascina Bruciata, Rio Sordo Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
This is the first Riserva released since the acquisition of the estate in 2016 by Marchesi di Barolo. This wine is sourced from eight hectares...
2016
Cascina BruciataBarbaresco
Cascina Vano, Pilone nei Rivetti Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
The 2016 vintage is a blend from different vineyards, without the more recent acquisition of 0.8 hectares of Basarin. The estate has a polished, classic...
2016
Cascina VanoBarbaresco
Ada Nada, Rombone Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
From the Rombone MGA in Treiso, Ada Nada's boutique winery produces delicious wines with a modern touch. The fruit is fully destemmed and fermented in...
2016
Ada NadaBarbaresco
Francone, Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
A blend of different vineyards within the Neive commune, mostly from old vines. It undergoes a traditional fermentation then ageing in French oak barrels as...
2016
FranconeBarbaresco
Musso, Pora Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
From 2.5 hectares in the Pora MGA in the commune of Barbaresco, based on mostly southwest facing limestone soil with veins of clay. It's quite...
2016
MussoBarbaresco
Punset, San Cristoforo Campo Quadro Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
Marina Marcarino energetically manages this estate following organic viticultural practises. The Campo Quadro Riserva is complex and multifaceted, with minty and balsamic notes along with...
2016
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Roberto Sarotto, Currà Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
Currà lies between 270 and 300 metres above sea level in Neive. The winemaking style of Roberto Sarotto is quite modern, with a cold soak...
2016
Roberto SarottoBarbaresco
Socré, Roncaglie Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
Roncaglie is at 200-250 metres above sea level on calcareous marls from the Tortonian epoch, similar to the soils of La Morra and Barolo. This...
2016
SocréBarbaresco
Giuseppe Nada, Casmar Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
A fiercely traditional estate in Treiso, the winemaking is old fashioned with almost no temperature control, long macerations of up to 70 days in the...
2016
Giuseppe NadaBarbaresco
