2010 Barbaresco Ovello

A wine of pure tension and raciness, the 2010 Barbaresco Ovello is another standout. Veins of minerality and acidity support a Barbaresco endowed with tremendous energy. Today, the Ovello comes across as just a touch austere and compact, but that is the essential personality of Ovello. If the fruit fills out a little bit more the 2010 might merit a slightly higher rating.

Pinpoint nuance, delineation and cut are the hallmarks of the 2010 Barbaresco Ovello, a wine that captures the essence of the late harvest and this cold micro-climate. Firm yet well-integrated tannins frame a core of sweet red fruit, crushed rocks and flowers. Bright and vibrant, the 2010 Ovello is going to be a wine to bury in a cold, dark corner of the cellar for at least a few years.