Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva "Montefico" DOCG 2021
(Piedmont, Italy) - [KO 99] [VM 97] [WS 97] [JD 97] [WA 97] [JS 96]

About the Winery:
Produttori del Barbaresco exclusively vinifies Nebbiolo grapes from the vineyards owned by the 50 member-growers in within the Barbaresco DOCG appellation.

In any given vintage a Barbaresco and a Nebbiolo Langhe are produced. The former, first released in the 1958 vintage, is made by assembling grapes from different fully grown vineyards. This is the flagship wine of the winery, known all over the world for the solid quality and great value that it represents. The latter, first released in 1975, is made with a selection of grapes from younger vineyards in within the region. It is suited for earlier consumption and it is a great way to introduce one’s palate to the beauty of the Nebbiolo grape and the Barbaresco terroir.

In great vintages only, nine single vineyards are produced and released after four years under the Riserva (Reserve) program. These wines are produced from a selection of grapes sourced from nine historical premium sites within the Barbaresco village boundaries. Historical vineyards, known for centuries for producing high quality grapes and now worldwide famous also thanks to the Produttori del Barbaresco legacy. Their names are Asili, Montefico, Montestefano, Muncagota, Ovello, Pajè, Pora, Rabajà, Rio Sordo.

First released in 1967, they are vinified and aged with exactly the same style in order to show their different personalities at their best and purest form. A tasting of the nine "Produttori Crus" is therefore an unique experience, just like a walk through the hills of Barbaresco can be!

About the Wine:

Grape variety: 100% Nebbiolo

MGA: Montefico

Vineyard size: 3.9 hectares (9.6 acres)

Vineyard exposure: south / south-east

Soil: calcareous limestone

Vinification: fermentation at 30°c (85°f), 20 days of skin contact time, malolactic completed

Ageing: in 25-50 hl oak barrels for at least 30 months

Vintage: medium body vintage with intense mineral and spicy aromas, balanced ripe tannins and elegant finish

Vineyard character: solid structure, intense minerality, spicy fruit, slow maturing tannins Longevity: 20 years from the vintage

Vineyard owners: Casetta, Grasso, Rocca, Vacca

Food matches: fresh egg-pasta dishes, risotto, white and red meat, game, venison

Ratings & Reviews

99 Points - KO
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93+ Points - Vinouus Media:
“The 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is a tense, vibrant wine. Whereas in most vintages the Montefico can be a touch austere, the 2021 has plenty of energy, but also the textural depth to pull it all together. In that sense, the Montefico is a terrific example of the vintage here. Its concentration and persistence are the stuff dreams are made of. Hints of sage, graphite, chalk and mint explode on the back end.” – Antonio Galloni (Oct 2025)

97 Points - Wine Spectator:
“A rich version, offering flavors of black cherry, blackberry, violet, iron and spices, with a line of dense tannins underneath. The fruit builds, yet overall this is reserved and less expressive than its peers despite a deep core of fruit. Shows balance and fine length, but give this time. Best from 2030 through 2048. 1,380 cases made, 700 cases imported.” – Bruce Sanderson (Mar 2026)

97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
“The 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico pours a slightly deeper red color than the Ovello and opens with inviting aromas of sweet cedar, cherry liqueur, toasted spice, and polished leather. Medium-bodied, it delivers vibrant acidity, velvety tannins, and a bit more depth and structure on the palate. The finish is long and persistent. Roughly 16,348 bottles and 1,826 magnums were produced. Drink 2028-2050.” (Apr 2026)

97 Points - Wine Advocate:
“The Produttori del Barbaresco 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is another large-scale Nebbiolo in this ladder of Riserva intensity. The wine shows notable texture and depth with flavors of dark fruit, blackcurrant and dried cherry that unfold steadily across the palate. Subtle notes of spice, cinnamon, licorice and camphor build in the background, adding complexity and dimension. Sourced from 3.9 hectares of vines on calcareous clay soils, Montefico consistently delivers a more structured and powerful expression of Barbaresco, and the 2021 vintage amplifies those qualities. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in large oak botti, this release totals 16,600 bottles.” – Monica Larner (Jul 2026)

96 Points - James Suckling:
“Spicy and aromatic, this is full of wild herbs and strawberries, licorice and mint. Fully focused on freshness yet restrained, showing balsamic and figs. Full-bodied, silky to velvety on the palate due to superripe tannins, with crisp acidity and a tight yet chiseled structure in the finish. Long and warming. March 2026 release. Drink or hold.” (Nov 2025)