Produttori del Barbaresco - Barbaresco Riserva Asili, 2004
This cooperative was founded in 1958 by Don Fiorino Marengo, a priest from the village of Barbaresco. The growers gathered by Don Fiorino produced their first vintages in the basement of the rectory of a church. A few years later, the current winery was built across the street from their humble beginnings.
Today, the cooperative has 51 members that together control a 100 hectares area. Produttori del Barbaresco focuses solely on the nebbiolo grape. Every year, they produce approximately 45,000 cases of wine. Around 35% of Produttori’s production is devoted to their Riserva wines – Asili is counted among them. The Asili vineyard is a historical Cru laying just south of the Barbaresco commune.
Asili has 18 days of skin contact time during vinification. After fermentation, it is aged for 36 months in large oak barrels and 12 months in bottle before being released. In spite of being enjoyable upon release, Asili is suitable for long cellaring ageing. It can be kept for up to 20 years after bottling.
In the glass, the wine appears garnet, with medium intensity of colour. On the nose, it’s ethereal, perfumed and precise. It features a remarkable concentration of flavours, ranging from sour red cherry to cranberry, rose petals, aromatic herbs, autumn leaves, dried thyme and olive leaves. There’s also a balsamic edge, combined with umami undertones of tar, truffle and soya sauce. All these scents are wrapped in subtle notes of leather and toast. Extremely multi-layered, this wine is now at its
peak in terms of maturation, with a beautiful balance between primary, secondary and tertiary aromas.
On the palate, the wine is full in body. It opens with perfectly ripe and crunchy red fruit notes in the attack which combine with seductive floral nuances (rose, violets) and hints of tar and mushroom. In the mid-palate, some sweet notes emerge such as liquorice, anise, umami nuances and sultana suggestions. A touch of toffee reveals a beautiful and subtle oxidation which meld with smoky accents. The wine is high in acidity and tannins. The latter are polished and silky. Exhibiting a huge definition and concentration of flavours, this Barbaresco Riserva evolves in your mouth, revealing a supreme complexity. Tar, smoke and toast merge in the long harmonious finish. This wine is a masterpiece, a great treat for your senses.