2015 Barbaresco Reserva 'Vigna Boito', Rizzi, Piemonte
Pouring reveals a light mahogany core with a lighter-toned rim that hints at a little maturity. The nose is really quite elegant, more so that I was expecting for a nebbiolo of this age, with sweet, dark-cherry, delicate leathery notes and a feint backdrop of polished oak.
The palate is framed initially by an elegant blanket of mouth coating tannins, that gently disperse, on the return sip the palate is better prepared and the fruit character can reveal itself. Dark cherry intermingled with red berry fruit lead to a sweeter fruit mid-palate punctuated by a delicate warming oak character. A hint of dusty, leathery maturity hangs endlessly on the palate. Beautiful.
Aside from the initial grip, which simply melts away in the presence of food, the key take away for me is one of elegance, this really is a charming wine and once you've allowed the flavours to evolve on the palate you can't help but return for another sip.
James Russell-Grant, Mr.Wheeler Wine
"The Rizzi 2015 Barbaresco Rizzi Riserva Vigna Boito features the artwork of proprietor Enrico Dellapiana on the front label. With only 3,176 bottles produced, the wine reveals broad shoulders, width and impressive depth. This vintage offers a complete picture of the Nebbiolo grape and of the distinctive elegance of Treiso, one of the cornerstones of the Barbaresco appellation. This Riserva offers a solid center of gravity with ample fruit rendering and framing. The vintage achieves a richer, more concentrated style that suits the wine very nicely. Drink 2022-35."
94/100 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Quite a dense and intense weighty nose. Leather and currant and really firm unrelenting tannins at the moment. There is a lightness of touch behind the firm framework. Drink 2022-30"
17++/20 Jancis Robinson