Barbaresco Riserva Rabaja, Produttori del Barbaresco 2014

Forest floor, new leather, rose and red-berry aromas mingle with a whiff of camphor. Youthfully austere, the taut palate shows serious aging potential, presenting juicy cherry, cranberry, star anise and orange slice set against tightly knit, noble tannins and firm acidity. Drink 2022–2034.

Vineyard size: 3.7 ha (9.1 acres). Vineyard exposure: south-west. Soil: limestone with sandy veins. Vinification: fermentation at 30 °C (85 °F), 28 days’ skin contact, malolactic completed. Ageing: 36 months in large oak barrels and 12 months in bottle. Bottling date: April 2018. Total production: 17,304 bottles and 1,348 magnums. This is bottle number 4326. A shade deeper and a little more developed than the Muncagota Riserva. Deep nose of strawberry and iron with a cool edge in spite of its concentration. Minerally raspberry fruit with a linear core of acidity and more than a hint of iron. Firm layer of coating tannins while the linear, perfumed raspberry fruit is elegant as well as concentrated. Gorgeous vibrant finish. 14% Drink 2022-2034