Tasting Report: 2011 Is Another Beautiful Vintage for Barbaresco

The best producers of Barbaresco appeared to have made slightly better wines in 2011 compared to 2010 – notably Gaja and Bruno Giacosa – but it's not that obvious that either vintage is superior over the other for most other producers.

The 2010 vintage for nebbiolo has been hailed as one of the best in a long time, particularly for Barolo. Indeed, the vintage produced some exceptionally aromatic, refined, and structured reds, although I have never been convinced it is one of the best ever. Regardless, 2010 has already stolen what little limelight 2011 had on the market. So the Barbarescos from the vintage now on the market and the Barolos, which will be sold in 2015, have generated little interest, if any.

Looking qualitatively at the differences in 2011 and 2010, I think the difference is mostly style. Most 2011 Barbarescos are slightly more flamboyant and fruity while the 2010s are more aromatic, subtle, complex, and structured. "It's hard to say one vintage is better than the other," admitted Giorgio Rivetti, the owner of La Spinetta, who made excellent wines in both vintages.

Yet, other vintners such as the esteemed Bruno Giacosa and the formidable Aldo Vacca – managing director of Produttori del Barbaresco with 51 grower-members comprising 100 of Barbaresco's 680 hectares – believe 2011 is superior. "The 2011 is clearly better than 2010," he said. Vacca said that the 2010 vintage produced slightly diluted grapes due to rains in September. This is why the Produttori didn't make any single vineyard Barbarescos in 2010 and blended them all into its standard Barbaresco.

Bruno Giacosa also said he didn't bottle his 2010 Barbarescos, or Barolos, for the same reason. "It not a great vintage," he said. "I just didn't like the wines."

Anyway, the 2011 is another beautiful vintage for nebbiolo, and the quality of the 70 or so 2011 Barbarescos I tasted a few months ago in Piedmont in blind tastings prove this.