Produttori del Barbaresco’s Barbaresco Riserva Montefico 2021 is a single-cru Riserva from the Montefico vineyard in Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont, made from 100% Nebbiolo and bottled at 14.5% alcohol. Produttori, the historic local cooperative, typically releases its lineup of single-vineyard Riservas only in stronger vintages, and the critical response to 2021 suggests this is one of those years.

This is a traditionally framed Barbaresco, fermented in stainless steel and aged in large oak botti. Montefico itself is a small, south-facing site (about 3.9 hectares) with calcareous clay soils and the cooling influence of northern winds off the Tanaro River—conditions that help explain the wine’s combination of ripeness and drive in a year described as cooler overall, but with “a hot finish.”

Several reviewers rate the wine at an excellent level, led by Kerin O’Keefe’s 99-point assessment, calling it “incredibly fragrant,” with aromas of “camphor, new leather, blood orange, hazelnut and spice,” followed by a palate of “raspberry, black cherry, star anise, truffle and nutmeg alongside brooding tannins.” O’Keefe adds that it “has the structure and tannic backbone of a Barolo,” a clear signal that this is built for time in the cellar.

Vinous also delivered an excellent 97 points, with Antonio Galloni describing a “tense, vibrant wine” that in 2021 shows “plenty of energy,” plus “textural depth,” finishing with notes that “explode on the back end,” including “sage, graphite, chalk and mint.”

James Suckling scored it 96, emphasizing freshness and polish: “spicy and aromatic,” with “wild herbs and strawberries, licorice and mint,” and a “silky to velvety” feel supported by “crisp acidity” and a “tight yet chiseled structure.” Overall, Montefico 2021 reads as a concentrated, firmly structured Barbaresco with notable perfume and a long runway ahead.