Red wine

Barbaresco

Robe — Pale garnet, quick to brick — Nebbiolo never hides its age

  • rose
  • tar
  • red cherry
  • truffle
  • dried herbs
Palate
Perfumed and elegant, firm tannin over high acidity; a touch earlier-drinking than Barolo
Ageing
10–25 years
Serving
16–18 °C, decant

Barolo's twin and equal, made from the same Nebbiolo on the hills across the Tanaro. Barbaresco is often a touch more perfumed and approachable — its slightly warmer, lower sites give wines of rose, tar and red cherry, firm but a little earlier to open than the sterner Barolo.

For decades it was overshadowed by its famous neighbour, until the local co-operative and a handful of visionary growers proved its greatness. Today its finest single vineyards stand among Italy's most revered reds — the other face of Piedmont's noble grape.

The blend

A typical modern composition

Where it is made

Producers

A few estates working in this style today — a sample, not a ranking

Through time

Indicative presence index, 0–100Origins & Antiquity — 0The Monastic Middle Ages — 20Exploration & the Fortified Age — 30Classifications & the Golden Age — 45Phylloxera & the World Crises — 45The Modern & New World Era — 75Antiquity0500150017001875195075