In the heart of Piedmont’s Langhe hills, the commune of Barbaresco is home to some of Italy’s most revered single-vineyard sites. Officially recognized as MGAs (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva) since the 2007 vintage, these crus have long been the obsession of producers and collectors alike. Here’s the latest field report on nine of the zone’s most celebrated names.
Asili remains the undisputed darling of the appellation. Perched in a south-facing amphitheater between 230 and 290 meters, its blue-gray Sant’Agata Fossili marls are laced with pronounced limestone veins. Sheltered from cold northern winds yet open to afternoon sun, Asili delivers wines of haunting perfume—violet, blood orange, licorice—wrapped around a silky yet electric structure. Producers unanimously describe it as the most “feminine” of the great sites.
Just downhill, Rabajà commands attention for the dramatic convergence of soil types within its borders. The upper, southwest-facing sector (240–300 m) sits on high-calcium Lequio Formation marls, while the lower western flank is richer and more fertile. The result is a rare equilibrium: muscular tannins and dark fruit in youth that, with a decade in bottle, evolve into a profound, multilayered classic often hailed as the ultimate expression of Barbaresco.
Montestefano, immediately to the east, plays the counterpoint. Its south- and southeast-facing slopes of Tortonian-era marls, rich in both clay and calcium, produce the most powerfully structured wines in the commune—frequently dubbed “the Barolo of Barbaresco.” Tar, black cherry, and iron-like minerality dominate, demanding patience but rewarding with decades of life.
Across the ridge, Ovello stretches across cooler, higher terrain (250–320 m) with a complex mix of aspects from southwest to southeast. The white-gray marls here are heavier in clay, and the proximity to the Tanaro River brings brisk ventilation. The wines are tense, vibrant, and slow to unfold—often showing explosive red fruit and a stony grip that can take fifteen years to resolve.
Rio Sordo occupies a solitary, southwest-facing promontory closer to the river at lower elevations (220–240 m). Its pale, limestone-rich soils are unusually low in active calcium, yielding a silkier tannin profile than most neighbors. Elegant yet deceptively age-worthy, it offers gamey, underbrush notes alongside refined red fruit.
Pajè, a compact bowl just below Rabajà, benefits from similar limestone-rich marls but sits slightly lower and cooler (220–260 m). The wines are bright, sharply contoured, and mint-inflected in youth—classic high-calcium signatures that blossom into complex, evergreen-scented beauties after a decade.
Pora, one of the earliest crus to be bottled on its own (1967), lies west of the village on gentler slopes with warmer morning sun. Higher clay content softens the tannins, producing plush, approachable Barbaresco that still carries the zone’s trademark tar-and-roses perfume.
Montefico, wedged between Ovello and Montestefano, is the high-calcium purist: steep, full south- and east-facing slopes of almost pure limestone. The wines are austere and mineral-driven, less opulent than Montestefano but bristling with breed and nerve.
Finally, Muncagota (sometimes spelled Moccagatta) sits in a sheltered southeastern pocket at around 300 meters. Cooler morning sun and lighter soils give delicate, almost Burgundian Barbaresco—floral, smoky, and saline—that flies somewhat under the radar despite its long track record.
2022 Barbaresco
The colour is light. Christmas spices with a hint of smoke. Mushrooms and tips of pencils. backbone freshness. sophisticated and reviving.
2021 Pora Reserva
The nose is really fine. earthy features. propelled by fruit and charcole. The glas are elegant and fine.
2021 Orvello Reserva
Alcohol and spice dominate the nose. Olives, cheries, and mushrooms drive terroir. harsh tannins that dry off the mouth.
2021 Muncagota Riserva
The most refreshing wine to date. Juicy, terroir-driven, and abundant in strawberries and dark cherries.
2021 Rio Sordo Riserva
Concentration and earthiness. Very refined flavours with a good balance between alcohol and fruit. Touch of sweetness and refreshing acidity. *
2021 Asili Riserva
Complex and finess. Very drying tannins. Bold body with fruity aspects.
2021 Paje Riserva
Lot of tabaco and smoky flavours. Dominant tannins. Wine for keeping for a lot of years need some bottle age. A powerhouse with elegance.
2021 Rabaja Riserva
Very powerful with mouthdrying tannins. Nice acidity. Toast , smoke, caramel.
2021 Montestefano Riserva
Beautiful and elegant. Amoky and earthy with mushroom and terroir aspects. Juicy, cassis, strawberry and swet mirells coming forward. Sharp tannins and refreshing acidity. *
2021 Montefico Riserva
Very much going on in the glass. Big concentration of Flavors. Beautiful and bold. A lot of acity. Need definitly need years on the bottle. Not ready yet but already Beautiful. Xmas spices, sweet cherries, morells, mushrooms, olives. Smoke, tabacco, vanilla. Great wine. *
