It’s a date we mark on our calendars every year: the arrival of the new vintage of the classic Produttori del Barbaresco. For those of you who follow this iconic cooperative, you know what a benchmark this wine is. 2021 was one of the best vintages in Barbaresco ever, it’s time to stock up your cellar with this beauty. 2021 is a year defined by aromatic purity, vibrant acidity, and wonderfully structured, fine-grained tannins—all the hallmarks of a long-aging, classic vintage. The nose is a soaring display of crushed red cherries, wild strawberries, and rose petals, with underlying notes of anise and tar. It perfectly captures the elegance and finesse that distinguish Barbaresco. Don’t forget about magnums, they age beautifully and at this price are hard to miss.

I’m a huge fan of Produttori and had been eagerly awaiting the new 2021 bottling—and this gem more than lived up to those lofty expectations for both producer and vintage. What struck me most was the purity and finesse: remarkably refined and pretty, yet with real depth of fruit and refreshing acidity. It delivers all the hallmark Nebbiolo notes, with aromas of roses and blood orange, bright red fruit flavors, and super-fine, elongated tannins. While I can’t wait to see how it evolves with age, it already offers plenty of pleasure now with a healthy decant. For a tremendous, top-flight Barbaresco at this price, the 2021 is something special—easily one of their most finessed and beautiful non-riserva bottlings in recent memory.