2012 Barbaresco Montestefano
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The 2012 Barbaresco Montestefano is an excellent choice for drinking now and over the medium term, as it is already quite expressive. Soft, silky tannins wrap around a core of dried flowers, red cherries, mint, spices, licorice and leather. The 2012 is a relatively approachable young Barbaresco from Rivella. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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A gorgeous, mid-weight wine, the 2012 Barbaresco Montestefano offers up a compelling interplay of orange peel, spice, mint, savory herbs and anise. This is a distinctly traditional Barbaresco built for aging, although I suspect that given the mid-weight personality of the year, the 2012 won't need as long as other vintages to reach its peak of expression. Still, readers will have to give the wine some time in bottle for the flavors to fully meld together and the tannins to soften. As always, floral, savory and earthy notes dominate, while the fruit lies more in the background.