2011 Barbaresco Muncagota Riserva Produttori del Barbaresco

All about finesse, elegance and a silky texture. Cherry, eucalyptus, licorice and spice flavors permeate the vibrant frame. The balance suggests you could enjoy this now, but there is a firm underlying structure. The terrific finish echoes the fruit and ups the ante with a chalky, minerally vein. Best from 2018 through 2032. From Italy.-B.S.

The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is reflective of the warm vintage. This is a solid and slightly rigid expression that shows hints of cherry marmalade, rum cake and prune. Those heavy aromas lift to reveal a wine with dark red cherry and mild spice at its core. Subtle background tones of balsam herb and rosemary oil add extra dimension. In the mouth, the wine delivers a point of sharpness or tartness. Overall, this wine is not as open as the others in this beautiful series of Riserva wines.

Muncagota offers enticing aromas of fresh red berries, rose petals and mint, freshness that was preserved by the cool morning sun on the vineyard's southeast facing slope. Its red cherry and strawberry flavors feel plush, and take on earthy tones of tobacco, damp leaves and ground porcini with time in the glass.

Soft, caressing and voluptuous, the 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is the sweetest and most open of these 2011 Riservas. Hard candy, wild flowers, mint and sweet spices meld together in a sensual, inviting Barbaresco that will drink nicely pretty much upon release. The 2011 strikes an attractive middle ground of raciness, texture and structure. As such, it will be one of the best early drinkers in this range. This is a gorgeous Muncagota.