2021 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Montefico

***Max. 1 bottle per order Montefico sits right next to Ovello on the northern side of the commune, sharing that same high-altitude, morning-sun exposure but carrying a much higher concentration of active limestone in the dirt. It is historically the insider’s favourite, prized for its sheer austerity and mineral precision. The winemaking completely embraces this lean structure. They avoid any heavy-handed extraction, relying on the long, slow aging process in neutral casks to let the intense mineral structure soften naturally over time. The 2021 release is beautifully uncompromised. It skips the easy, sweet-fruited paths, delivering a tight, linear drive of pomegranate, dried botanicals and a heavy dust of crushed limestone. The tannins are sharp and gravelly, providing a rigid, uncompromising structure that ensures this wine will take years to fully open up. It is an honest, purist’s Nebbiolo.