Combining power, intensity, class and great fruit, Produttori's 2019 Montestefano Riserva is a phenomenal wine and a quintessential expression of this fantastic cru. It opens with heady aromas of new leather, Alpine herb, pressed rose, ripe dark-skinned berry and forest floor. It has the most Barolo-like structure of all the firm's crus, delivering ripe Morello cherry, succulent raspberry, licorice and tobacco alongside a network of firm tannins that are more reminiscent of Serralunga than Barbaresco. A magnificent wine, with incredible aging potential.

Compared to the 2020 vintage, the 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is a whole other wine. This expression is rich, abundant and defined by an elegant mineral tone that gives it backbone and linearity. It boasts plenty of dark fruit at its core with a presentation that is firmly structured and tightly coiled. The wine's tannic structure is bold and powerful, requiring more bottle age.

Heady aromas that opens with black raspberries, cherry compote, and mixed sweet and savory spices. Subtle floral and herbal notes bolt in to add to the depth of the nose. Broad and rich across the palate with a generous dollop of mixed berry preserves with cracked pepper and dried herbs. The tannins are masterful with a refined nature that calls out the soul of Nebbiolo and shows how well this wine will age.

The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is perhaps the most complete of the 2019 Riservas at this stage. It offers fine depth, plenty of tannin and nascent emerging inner sweetness to tie it all together. A wine of stature and textural depth, the Montestefano is my early favorite in this lineup.

Evocative and aromatic, this red features cherry, rose, white pepper, eucalyptus, iron and tobacco flavors. Firmly built, with dense tannins and a savory finish, this is balanced but needs time.