Riserva Rio Sordo Barbaresco Nebbiolo

Earth and dark cherries. Roses.

Delicious. Needed a good decant but in my opinion soared above the Rabaja.

Always a deep pleasure to spend an evening at one of America's greatest restaurants.

Everything I read said this was one of the more accessible / earlier drinking riservas from 2011. Not sure I agree - or perhaps just missed that earlier window. My earlier bottles (last one a bit under 2 years ago) were more giving.

On cork pop the tannins were quite tightly wound. Decanted 4 hours and starting to give a bit more. The tannins are still quite gripping but the palate and nose expresses nice fruit and earth. Excellent acid. Tons of sediment - decant carefully. I guess try in a few more years?

Last had 2 years ago. In a good place, not sure what more time will yield. Decanted a couple hours and paired with fennel rubbed pork chops. Quite seamless. Really nice fruit and a long finish with a nice acid / mineral / saline core that provides for a long finish and makes it a great food wine.

2011

Really a very nice riserva from the good folks at produttori. Last had the 11 Rio Sordo over a year ago, and this bottle is little different - would wait another 3-5 years before another. Decanted 3.5 hours. Darker in the glass than I expected. Wonderful dark red fruit and flowers and a bit of muddle on the nose. Tannins are pretty formidable - but quite nice with some pork chops. Long finish and just the hint of that lifting menthol note that I love.

Just delicious and in a great spot, though certainly no rush. Continued to improve with more air. Lots of dark cherry and earth. Beautiful full mouthfeel, tannins are present but integrated, great acidity, hint of a refreshing menthol note on the finish. Excellent with lamb.

First impression, a wonderfully complex wine with layers, evolved into Balsamic under tow with all spice, and green tea awash on sour cherries and rose blossom, bound in old leather

Has amazing depth of flavor. Very light on tongue.