2016 Produttori del Barbaresco

[burak kesim]

I opened a bottle of the generic Barbaresco 2016 recently and was amazed by the consistency given the size of production. Does anyone have any information on the process of selection/sorting grapes from 50+ growers?

I put the below note on my instagram page.
@Burakwinenotes

I drink widely from Piedmont, but I always return to Produttori del Barbaresco - it’s a personal benchmark for value and consistency.

Barbaresco’s soils, with less limestone and more sand than Barolo, generally lend the wines finesse, while the Tanaro River’s microclimate adds to their elegance. Few producers have done more to elevate the region than Produttori del Barbaresco, which is actually a co-op of over 50 growers farming 100+ hectares, nearly a sixth of the appellation. Producing around 300,000 bottles a year, this is an astonishing level of quality.

The 2016 Barbaresco is everything you could hope for; succulent red berries, perfumed roses, vibrant acidity, and fine-grained tannins. It was quite firm on the first day; on day two, it softened and was even more expressive, revealing deeper notes of dried apricots. Serious yet approachable, this is phenomenal QPR from an outstanding vintage. (Glass: Zalto Burgundy).

 

[Jonathan Beagle]

Hi Burak, welcome to the forum. You’ll find there is a good selection of people who love Nebbiolo here. Myself included and some of us who visit the region regularly. Produttori from my visits there vinify and age by vineyard. During the barrel ageing stage what they do is taste and decide if certain vineyards and plots are distinctive in vineyard style enough for a cru and if not decide to blend in and those are then moved to other spaces. This process can happen post initial release as well, so all of the 2006 single crus ended up in the blend. From memory any vines that are younger than 15 years sold automatically go to the Langhe Nebbiolo unless they taste exceptional in which case they go into the blend but that is rare

 

[Alistair Lime]

On a slightly different note, I remember a whole thread on the Produttori 2016 back in 2020 but cannot seem to find it at all.
Maybe I dreamt it.

 

[burak kesim]

Hi Burak, welcome to the forum. You’ll find there is a good selection of people who love Nebbiolo here. Myself included and some of us who visit the region regularly. Produttori from my visits there vinify and age by vineyard. During the barrel ageing stage what they do is taste and decide if certain vineyards and plots are distinctive in vineyard style enough for a cru and if not decide to blend in and those are then moved to other spaces. This process can happen post initial release as well, so all of the 2006 single crus ended up in the blend. From memory any vines that are younger than 15 years sold automatically go to the Langhe Nebbiolo unless they taste exceptional in which case they go into the blend but that is rare

Thank you

 

[Ian Hampsted]

The 2016 Barbaresco is everything you could hope for; succulent red berries, perfumed roses, vibrant acidity, and fine-grained tannins. It was quite firm on the first day; on day two, it softened and was even more expressive, revealing deeper notes of dried apricots. Serious yet approachable, this is phenomenal QPR from an outstanding vintage.

The generic-normale PdB has always been outstanding value for money - for as far back as I can remember, which is at least a couple of decades - both in absolute terms and relative to the significant premium you pay for the single cru in good vintages, notwithstanding the very good experience we had tasting all nine of the 2008 crus last week - see this thread which also contains an interview with the winemaker Aldo Vacca. TN - Last midweek drinking drinking thread in January (27th to 30th Jan '25)

I opened my first 2016 just before Christmas and it was brilliant as you describe. The 2020 tried in November was one of the highlights of a marathon Decanter tasting. Highly recommended and it is going to be difficult to resist buying the 2021 as well. The difference between these more recent vintages and older ones is that they are more approachable early.

 

[Jonathan Beagle]

The generic-normale PdB has always been outstanding value for money - for as far back as I can remember, which is at least a couple of decades - both in absolute terms and relative to the significant premium you pay for the single cru in good vintages, notwithstanding the very good experience we had tasting all nine of the 2008 crus last week - see this thread which also contains an interview with the winemaker Aldo Vacca. TN - Last midweek drinking drinking thread in January (27th to 30th Jan '25)

I opened my first 2016 just before Christmas and it was brilliant as you describe. The 2020 tried in November was one of the highlights of a marathon Decanter tasting. Highly recommended and it is going to be difficult to resist buying the 2021 as well. The difference between these more recent vintages and older ones is that they are more approachable early.

I have many months ago failed miserably to not buy some 2021 offered to me!

 

[Martin Zwick]

On a slightly different note, I remember a whole thread on the Produttori 2016 back in 2020 but cannot seem to find it at all.
Maybe I dreamt it.

I wrote about the 2016er, so there must be a thread somewhere. OR lost after several forum-software updates?!

 

[Oli Collett]

Brilliant wine - enjoyed several bottles, unfortunately the last bottle I opened was slightly corked

 

[Martin Zwick]

Here my TN from november, 2019


2016 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco

After the first sip you immediately know this is a magnificent wine and magnificent vintage. Its this BALANCE, peace of mind, structure and depth. In addition despite its youth you already have a remarkable elegance.

Of course I know our wine cellars are full, of course I know that there are many many good wines on the market right now. Anyway…BUY

94/100


P.S. no mention from my TN in the archive

 

[burak kesim]

Has anyone tasted any older bottles of the generic Barbaresco recently? Anything from before 2010 or even 2000? It would be interesting to test its aging potential, as the 2016 still felt like it was just beginning its journey.

 

[Ian Hampsted]

I have a case of 2010 on the go which is drinking nicely and a vintage in which the crus were not declared. I would say this is at its peak drinking window, but these wines have a long track record of being notably ageworthy and can easily last for 20 or more years.

 

[Jonathan Beagle]

Has anyone tasted any older bottles of the generic Barbaresco recently? Anything from before 2010 or even 2000? It would be interesting to test its aging potential, as the 2016 still felt like it was just beginning its journey.

2006 and 2007 recently. A search will bring up my notes. I still have some bottles kicking around. Just one 2006 and three or four 2007. Both still have time in hand. 20-25 years old would be peak of complexity v fruit for the normale in my view but they can go longer for sure especially in excellent vintages.

 

[Ken Oliver]

Has anyone tasted any older bottles of the generic Barbaresco recently? Anything from before 2010 or even 2000? It would be interesting to test its aging potential, as the 2016 still felt like it was just beginning its journey.

I had the 67 in, I think, 2022 and it was miraculously fresh, still wonderfully ripe and on the fruit, and overall just a superb rendition

 

[Tom De Vecchi]

I went quite long on the 2010 as it’s a generally super vintage and knowing as Ian says they didn’t make the riservas that year, but then found it a rather difficult and ungiving wine in its early years (it is Nebbiolo I guess). But it’s drinking really well now I agree.

 

[Oli Collett]

Has anyone tasted any older bottles of the generic Barbaresco recently? Anything from before 2010 or even 2000? It would be interesting to test its aging potential, as the 2016 still felt like it was just beginning its journey.

I drank 3 bottles of 1983 in 2023 for various 40ths. Remarkable wines in what was apparently a terrible vintage! If I ever see any more on the market at a good price I’ll be buying more as they’re usually available at a v good price, think I paid around £50/bottle delivered

 

[Martin Zwick]

Here a short note from February, 2020 which I drank in Copenhagen.

1970 Reserva Rabaja

And the wine was impressive, quite firm and still a bit funky. Lovely Barbaresco.

 

[Alistair Lime]

I wrote about the 2016er, so there must be a thread somewhere. OR lost after several forum-software updates?!

Yes! That was the thread that prompted my purchases of 2016 barbaresco.

 

[Simon Wheeler]

Has anyone tasted any older bottles of the generic Barbaresco recently? Anything from before 2010 or even 2000? It would be interesting to test its aging potential, as the 2016 still felt like it was just beginning its journey.

The 2008 is drinking well now with plenty of time ahead of it, I’m a few bottles into a case of 12 and I’m in no rush to get through it
They used to age for decades in a decent vintage

 

[Paul J a i n e s]

I have a stupid amount of 2010s in the cellar. Had one from mag this weekend and a couple over christmas.... they've been a bit variable but never too old. One bottle was stunning...the others a bit muddled/grump


I think i have about 40 bottles (mags and singles) left so i hope they age!!

 

[Chris Davies]

Have just taken a 6 pack of the 2010 normale out of storage. Will report back when we open one.