Red

100 pts James Suckling
This is really muscular and really powerful. It is amazing. Full-bodied, yet tight and super structured with incredible power and super toned tannins. It goes on for minutes. The greatest Barbaresco ever from here? I love the strength with fruit finesse. I don’t remember tasting a young Asili like this. Give this a lot of time to come together. One for the cellar. Try after 2026.

97+ points Wine Advocate
Packaged in its distinctive red label, the 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is a rich and profound wine with incredible depth and dimension. Bruna Giacosa skipped over the 2015 vintage because she felt that the fruit was not poised for long aging. From the 2014 vintage, we jump to this 2016 expression, a wine that Bruna says reminds her of the epic 2001 and 2004 vintages. She also loves the 2017 vintage, which I look forward to tasting next year. This wine is incredibly precise and sharp; however, the volume and generous fruit weight promises a long aging future. The aromas veer toward red berry, cherry and cassis, and the darker black fruit tones that you might expect are less prominent in the Asili. The wine majestically captures the elegance and the power of this iconic vintage.

This wine is rustic Nebbiolo through and through, that is delightful to drink even in its youth. The body is a very pretty elegant red hue, with traditional notes of smoke, leather and scorched earth. There is a slight note of oak that pairs nicely with some dusty tannins on the finish. It does needs to unwind a bit in the glass, which is typical for the varietal. This is a solid value in traditionally made Nebbiolo.

The De Forville family emigrated to Piedmont from Belgium in 1848 and established themselves in the village of Barbaresco in 1860. Here, the family was instantly engaged in growing the Nebbiolo grape under the direction of Gioachino De Forville. Now, the fifth generation is in place: Valter and Paolo Anfosso, the two sons of Bruno and Mafalda.

In the early part of the twentieth century, the De Forvilles sold their wine in bulk directly to restaurants and to retailers who then bottled the wine. In 1940 the estate bottled its first wine and now virtually their entire production is bottled at the estate

The nearly 11 hectare domaine is divided between holdings in the villages of Barbaresco [4.5 hectare] and Castagnole Lanze [6.5 hectare], a commune that is about four kilometers east of Barbaresco in the direction of Asti.

Their Barbaresco is the standard-bearer for the estate. The vines are planted exclusively within the confines of Barbaresco and are scattered among various “crus”, including Rabaja and Pozzo. The average age of the vines is 35 years. After harvest, the juice is fermented in stainless steel for approximately two weeks; then the wine is racked into large oak “botti” to age at least 18 additional months and frequently longer before being bottled. This wine is emblematic of the work done at the De Forville estate: the wine is rigorously traditional, marrying the finesse of Barbaresco with the alluring aromas and flavors of truffle, earth, berries, rose, tar and leather and carrying, most important of all, a backbone of sweet, dusty tannins that give length and breed.

Organic

95 points Wine Advocate
Do you have a favorite pair of jeans or a favorite dress that you keep in your closet for all occasions? That's the equivalent of this wine. The G.D. Vajra 2021 Barolo Albe is an enormously versatile expression of Nebbiolo with an affordable price that offers more value for your money than most Barolos out there. The bouquet focuses on dark berry pressed flower and crushed stone. It offers good sharpness over broad lines. The mouthfeel is medium-plus in texture and it closes with silky accessible tannins. Fruit comes from three cru sites: Coste di Vergne Fossati and La Volta

70% Nebbiolo, 10% Vespolina, 10% Croatina, 10% Uva Rara, wow, we’re on here! Very mineral off the bat, which is enchanting and attention grabbing. Restrained aromas of balsamic, ferrous, iodine, cherry, faint red rose. The restraint draws you into the glass, and what you find keeps you there. Very good with a great burst of intensity on the palate, which balances compaction and openness well. Burgundian in feel, Very classy, poised, and precise. An outstanding wine.

Organic

A delightful expression of traditionally styled Nebbiolo (100%) from Piedmont’s Roero region. Classic notes of dried cherries, orange rind, baking spice and dried flowers. Medium-bodied with nice length that finishes with slightly firm tannins that soften nicely with decanting. Sourced from two prized vineyards Trinita and Renesio. Fermented in stainless steel tanks, then aged for 25 months in 460 to 500 liter (2-3 times used) French oak casks. The wine then rests in bottle for an additional 12 months prior to release.

The reviews are on the previous vintage.

93 points James Suckling
This is spiced and a little savory with notes of red berries, citrus peel and chocolate nibs as well as some cloves and dry earth. Medium to full body. Wide and fine tannins with velvety texture. Chocolaty finish.

92 points Wine Spectator
The plum and cherry flavors in this red are muted, sidling up against licorice, leather, earth and eucalyptus notes. There's a distinctive saltiness, plus dense tannins on the gripping finish. Best from 2027 through 2043. 2,300 cases made, 500 cases imported.

93 points Vinous
The 2022 Barbaresco is a pretty rich, heady wine. Dark cherry/plum fruit, cloves, licorice and mocha build as the 2022 shows off its considerable depth. This is one of the few 2022s that is quite resonant texturally. The aromatics could be more lifted and the tannins could use a bit more polish, but those qualities were next to impossible to come by in 2022. The inclusion of some juice from Riserva lots is a great help. All things considered, this is a stellar showing.

93 points James Suckling
A super-fresh wine with strawberry, red currant, violet and mint aromas. Light-bodied. It shows freshness, lightness, crunchy tannins and a polished finish. Drink now


100% Nebbiolo from 4 hectares, 350-650m above sea level
. Oldest vines up to 40 years. Fermentation in stainless steel followed by malolactic fermentation and aging in 25HL Slavonian oak for one year
. 13.5% abv

95 points James Suckling
A fresh and elegant nose of strawberries, watermelon, leaves, stony minerality and a hint of tar. It’s forthright on the palate, with ripe, firm, dusty tannins, fruit concentration and crisp acidity. Full-bodied. Drink or hold.


100% Nebbiolo Valgella, Carterìa vineyard. The vineyard is situated at 550 m asl in the west part of the municipality of Teglio, south exposure. Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tank; malolactic
fermentation and aging for 12 months in 30 Hl oak cask and 500 lt oak barrels. Aging for 18 months in bottles.