Cantina del Pino 'Ovello' Barbaresco DOCG, 2019

In Barbaresco, Cantina del Pino is releasing the last vintage in which Renato had a hand. He was already well into his illness, so Franca took the lead and they are some of the best wines the winery has produced to date.

Okay, so...this is THE wine. Even if you don't bother to listen to the "I'll drink to that" podcast with Renato about how the definitive history of Barbaresco and why we even know what it is, globally, let alone seek it out and fervently drink it any chance we can...even if you don't know that the Vacca family were not only the founders of the Produttori del Barbaresco but that their site and holdings in Ovello, specifically, earned them the clout and skill and control to lead their neighbor farmers on an international stage...it was THIS farm that did that. We are grateful. And, more importantly, the wine is simply SPECTACULAR. Buy extra and lay some down. You'll think I'm pretty good at this if you do...and really, it's not me at all, but moreover my mentor Jim and some of the most special winemaking in the world on an ancient farm that makes this one of the best wines to collect and (when you feel like you just need or WANT to) DRINK as often as you can.-JZS

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“Opening to dusty mineral notes of crushed limestone, the 2019 Barbaresco Ovello is a focused and angular wine that makes for a very pretty presentation. The aromas are direct and vertical, given momentum by shadings of iron ore and pencil shaving. I love the extreme focus of this wine. Some 6,000 bottles were released, and as always, Cantina del Pino offers enormous quality at this price point.This whole portfolio from Cantina del Pino is terrific, with top-notch expressions of Nebbiolo that are fine and fragile.
WA Monica Larner 95+ Points  Published: Aug 24, 2023

The late Renato and his father Adriano decided to leave the Produttori del Barbaresco nearly three  decades ago, an organization that Adriano co-founded in 1958 with his brother Celestino.  I imagine at the time it was a difficult decision, as the family was instrumental in the creation of the Produttori, just as they were instrumental in the very creation of the appellation now world famous as Barbaresco. The very first bottling named Barbaresco came from their vineyard “Ovello”. But it was a wise move as we can now see, in that they have created one of the greatest estates in the zone or all of Piemonte for that matter. One that has quickly reached levels of critical acclaim that one would expect that could only be achieved over generations. But then again, they have been doing it that long, just under different names.  And now there is a new chapter with Renato’s wife Franca taking over the reins. My first taste of the first wine that she made all on her own, the 2020 Langhe Nebbiolo dispelled any hint of a doubt that the student has surpassed the teacher.

All Barbareschi from CdP undergo extended submerged cap fermentations with indigenous yeast, (unless, as is sometimes the case in warmer years,  it does not start fast enough.) post fermentation macerations that keep the wine and skins together for  at least 30 days and then they are  moved to large (25-30 HL) Botte for two  years plus  in the case of the Classico bottling and longer (30 months) for crus. After 6-12 months in bottle the wines are released.