2013 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Asili

Community Tasting Note

HowardNZ Likes this wine:

93 Points

Sunday, June 2, 2019 - I suspected this, but didn't check my 2018 CT note before opening an orphan bottle I had in my wine fridge. The 2013 Asili is very primary, structured and tightly shut down. It was pretty much unapproachable on the first evening but better on each of the next two following evenings, opening up a bit. Deep dark red. Initially on bouquet lifted rose and violet aromatics, tar, wet river gravel, black tea, black cherries and other dark fruit. With time, a little earth, more tar and some new leather saddle emerged. On palate, very young, unresolved and dense. But it is almost drinkable now because it is so fine and well balanced. Ultra fine grained tannins and silky texture. Bright, persistent acidity. Serious fruit weight, power and volume. Quite dry with granite austerity at its core. Black tea, minerals, dark soil, tar and a real dark fruit character. Really not yet ready for opening. It needs an absolute minimum of 5-8+ more years in the cellar, but ideally 10-20 years to come into its peak drinking window. Excellent (94-95) potential.

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4 comments have been posted

Comment posted by RGCM Gananda:

6/2/2019 7:12:00 PM - Thanks for the outstanding note, very useful. I was planning on holding mine until at least 2024 or 2025 and your notes confirm that strongly. I'm excited to see how well all of these 2013 Crus show at that time.
Comment posted by HowardNZ:

6/2/2019 10:06:00 PM - You're welcome, RGCM. Your timeframes sound about right. Coincidentally, today, I just took delivery of my 2014 Produttori Riservas. Having tasted a few of them, and other 2014 Barbarescos, they promise to be a very different proposition. I can see myself drinking many of my 2014s before opening another 2013 (or, at least, that's the idea anyway). 2013 reminds me of 2001 or 2006, very backward, but very, very good, perhaps as good as 2008.
Comment posted by kdubler:

6/3/2019 2:12:00 PM - Have you tried the 2011's? Curious your opinion of the 13's vs the 11's?

Thank you for the great note!
Comment posted by HowardNZ:

6/4/2019 3:20:00 AM - Hi kdubler, I enjoy the 2011 Riservas, I have a few notes here on CT. I like the 2011 Rabaja best of the 2011 Cru. The 2013s are classical, long cellaring Barbarescos, probably IMO Produttori's strongest vintage since the 2008s. 2011 was a warm year and the 2011s - like the 2009s and 2007s - are much more approachable earlier. You can drink the 2011 Cru now but ideally I think they typically need 2-5+ more years. Produttori is very consistent - and won't do a Riserva vintage if the vintage doesn't merit it - but, if you pushed me, I'd rate the 2011 Riservas as Produttori's second recent weakest vintage, just ahead of the 2009s. However, it's good to be able to drink 2009s, 2011s and 2007s, while you wait for your 2013s and 2008s to come around.