Barbaresco Riserva 2018: Vintage report and 11 recommendations

Either way you look at it, 2018 was not really a Riserva vintage in Piedmont’s Barbaresco DOCG. There was the spring frost, the hail on 17 July, then a good deal of rain on top of the warm climate. These challenges beset producers desperate for a large harvest after the drought-like 2017 vintage.

The hot weather allied to the rainfall should have been perfect for higher yields in 2018, but instead it resulted in dilute wines in the worst examples, and a light, graceful Barbaresco for more immediate drinking in the best.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for 11 recommended Barbaresco Riserva 2018 wines

Aldo Vacca of Produttori del Barbaresco confirmed that the region’s acclaimed cooperative would not produce a Riserva in 2018.

Similar news ensued from Gaia Gaja, who said that her Gaja winery would not produce its top selection Sorì range (San Lorenzo, Tildin and Costa Russi) in this vintage.

On the one hand, the reputation of 2018 is perhaps too low. Walter Lodali confesses: ‘the wines are hard to sell compared to 2019.’

From September, with the arrival of the round 2020 wines on the market, I would imagine they will become even harder to sell. This is a shame, because although the wines might not be particularly ageworthy, there are nevertheless a lot of delicious, typical Barbaresco that are expressive now and easy to drink.

On the other hand, the consensus about the vintage proves how difficult it may have been to produce a Riserva.

Looking closer at the growing season, it was defined by a longer than usual winter with abundant rainfall that replenished groundwater resources depleted by climatic trends leading up to 2017.

A single heatwave occurred at the end of April which led to an early bud break, then rains and below average temperatures continued across April, May and June.

Halfway through July, temperatures rose significantly but a bad hailstorm hit the region on Sunday 17 July. September was sunny, with two hot weeks that allowed the grapes to ripen faster. Harvest concluded by the first week of October, a date that often marks its beginning.

Not a sound spring, not a regular veraison, not a long growing season. In my opinion, the 2018 vintage lacks the favourable elements needed to imagine a Riserva. There were a handful of good examples, but not much more than that due to the lack of volume, concentration and complexity.

Barbaresco Riserva 2018 recommendations

Related articles

• Barbaresco: panel tasting results
• Barolo vs Brunello vs Barbaresco: What’s the difference?
• Barbaresco 2019 vintage report: 40 wines to try