98-99 Point Wines

wines

The 2021 Barolo Villero soars from the glass with intensely spiced, balsamic-tinged aromatics. Deceptively medium in body, with superb persistence and class, the 2021 is simply magnificent. Beams of tannin shape the unforgettable, persistent finish. This is another wine that demands patience. The Villero is not an easy wine, rather it is a Barolo that offers a more inward, at times intellectual, expression of Nebbiolo.Vinous Media | 98 VMSporting a more transparent ruby red color, the 2021 Barolo Villero is focused and lifted with enveloping aromas of medicinal herbs, fresh redcurrants, dried cranberries, and umami notes of porcini and anise. The palate is vibrant and pure, with fantastic energy and clarity, ripe tannins, refreshing acidity, and a great finish. This one steps things up a notch, and I would scramble to have a few of these in my cellar. Drink 2025-2050.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDCompared to the others, the Oddero 2021 Barolo Villero embraces a wider span of aromas that are more horizontal in approach, with dark fruit, licorice and spice. This wine expresses itself beautifully, especially as you give it more time in the glass. I am especially impressed by the quality of the tannins, which are firm, nervous and elegant. This release of 6,500 bottles sees a spontaneous fermentation with submerged cap and 60 days of slow maceration in oak casks. It matures in botte grande for 24 months.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPAromas of rose and iris mingle with dark exotic spice and a balsamic whiff of menthol on the fragrant 2021 Villero from Oddero. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the palate delivers succulent black cherry, cranberry, star anise and toasted almond alongside close-grained tannins that grip the finish and leave a drying finish. Drink 2030–2041. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 94 KO

All about finesse, the 2021 Monprivato is a captivating wine offering intense aromas of violet, wild rose, camphor, dark culinary spice and a whiff of new leather. Classy and showing youthful tension, the compelling palate beautifully expresses the celebrated site and the fantastic vintage, delivering layers of Morello cherry, raspberry, star anise and mentholated notes. Taut, refined tannins and tangy acidity keep it well balanced. Drink 2031–2046. Abv: 14.5%Kerin O’Keefe | 99 KO

Always the most perfumed and elegant of all the single vineyard bottlings from Produttori del Barbaresco, the 2021 Asili Riserva is stunningly gorgeous. A textbook expression of this celebrated site and of the outstanding vintage, it captivates with intense aromas of violet, wild rose, ripe berry and cake spice. Elegant but still youthfully nervous, the palate delivers layers of ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, blood orange, star anise and nutmeg accompanied by coiled but refined tannins. It’s young but already wonderfully balanced, with bright acidity. Give this beauty time to fully develop. Drink 2029–2041. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 99 KOThe 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is an alluring beauty that melds together the signatures of this site with the structure of the year at this address. Floral, bright and bursting with energy, the Asili is a star. Blood orange, kirsch, red-toned fruit, cedar, mint and spice rush from the glass. Here, too, readers will have to be patient. This is pure and total sensuality.Vinous Media | 98 VMThe graceful elegance of the Asili vineyard is apparent here, with wild strawberries, red currants, fresh and dried flowers, watermelon and restrained depth. Full-bodied, dense and powerful. Very chewy and vibrant, tense and tight, with a long, sleek finish and fine-grained tannins. March 2026 release. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 96 JS

For the last few vintages, the Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico Riserva has been even more structured than the firm’s Montestefano, and the 2021 continues this trend. It’s also incredibly fragrant, delivering scents of camphor, new leather, blood orange, hazelnut and spice while the youthfully nervous palate delivers raspberry, black cherry, star anise, truffle and nutmeg alongside brooding tannins. This has the structure and tannic backbone of a Barolo. Drink 2031–2041. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 99 KOThe 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is a tense, vibrant wine. Whereas in most vintages the Montefico can be a touch austere, the 2021 has plenty of energy, but also the textural depth to pull it all together. In that sense, the Montefico is a terrific example of the vintage here. Its concentration and persistence are the stuff dreams are made of. Hints of sage, graphite, chalk and mint explode on the back end.Vinous Media | 97 VMSpicy and aromatic, this is full of wild herbs and strawberries, licorice and mint. Fully focused on freshness yet restrained, showing balsamic and figs. Full-bodied, silky to velvety on the palate due to superripe tannins, with crisp acidity and a tight yet chiseled structure in the finish. Long and warming. March 2026 release. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 96 JS

The 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is a dense, hulking wine. Powerful and dense to the core, the Montestefano is a big, broad-shouldered wine that is going to need a few years to be at its most expressive. Dark-toned fruit, new leather, spice, menthol are all amplified in this potent Barbaresco.Vinous Media | 97 VMYouthful on the nose, showing bright, lively aromas of red and dark fruits, leafy lightness, wild strawberries and black cherries with a whiff of blood oranges and earthy, chocolaty depth. The gorgeous full-bodied palate, structured and extracted, has firm, velvety tannins and tense acidity, leading to a balanced, endless, licorice finish. March 2026 release. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 96 JS

You’ll find compelling aromas of rosemary, hay, camphor and crushed mint on the intensely fragrant and fabulous 2021 Muncagota. Full-bodied and loaded with energy, the savory palate features ripe red cherry, black raspberry, citrus and dark spice as well as the rosemary note from the nose. Firm, well-integrated tannins provide support and give the finish grip. Drink 2029–2036. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 98 KOBalsamic style jumps out of the glass, with herb, eucalyptus and potpourri aromas alongside watermelon and mint-filled chocolate. The graceful attack shows ripe, elegant tannins, larger-grained in the end, with long, refreshing acidity and a savory finish. March 2026 release. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 96 JSThe 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is laced with strong floral and savory notes. Brisk acids and beams of supporting tannin give the 2021 its driving, tense personality. I expect those qualities will be positives for the future, but today the Muncagota is pretty forbidding. Give this time. This is one of the most tense editions of this wine I can remember tasting.Vinous Media | 95 VM