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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.

By Aldo Fiordelli

last updated 30 September 2021

in Tastings

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Barbaresco Riserva 2016 — Cascina Luisin's vines in Rabaja, Barbaresco.

(Image credit: cascinaluisin.it)

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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.

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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:

Barolo 2017 vintage report: 120 wines tasted

Tuscany vintage report

Barolo & Barbaresco: 10 high-flying vineyard sites

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Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for Aldo’s top-rated Barbaresco Riserva 2016 wines

The 2016 season

What are the Barbaresco Riserva 2016 wines like to drink?

Aldo’s top-rated Barbaresco Riserva 2016 wines:

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Barolo 2017 vintage report: 120 wines tasted

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