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La Spinetta Barbaresco Starderi 2017  - First Bottle

Reviews

96 James Suckling -
This is dense and tight with layers of berry, dried orange-peel, meat and chocolate character, yet ever so refined and complex. Full-bodied with firm tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Give it three or four years to come around. Try in 2024.

Technical Details

  • WinemakerGiorgio Rivetti
  • CountryItaly
  • RegionPiedmont
  • Sub-RegionLanghe
  • AppellationBarbaresco
  • VineyardStarderi
  • Farming MethodOrganic Practices
  • Oak19 Months in oak followed by 7 months in the bottle
  • Aging/Cooperage26 Months
  • Alcohol14.5%

La Spinetta Barbaresco Starderi 2017

Nebbiolo  |  Italy
JS96, WA94, VN94

SPECIAL: Ground shipping included on 3+ bottles!
Organic Practices
41% off retail!

This 96 POINT Barbaresco Starderi 2017 showcases the level of meticulous and thoughtful efforts from one of Italy’s finest wine families – resulting in a mineral, spice, and berry-rich 100% Nebbiolo chock-full of complexities and captivating finesse.

Giuseppe and Lidia Rivetti had a long history of farming under their belts when they initially planted the idea of starting a winery in the early 1960s. Their four grown children, Carlo, Bruno, Giorgio, and Giovanna, took over operations in 1977, further imprinting their parents’ values of humility, ambition, and respect for the land into the winery’s ethos through traditional and organic farming methods and a commitment to producing the indigenous wines of Piedmont. The initial focus was on single-cru Moscato, followed quickly by the native red varietals of Barbera, Barolo, and of course Barbaresco – even playing with iterations of Piedmontese sparkling wines.

The 2017 Barbaresco Starderi comes from the Starderi vineyard on the hills behind another of the winery’s coveted vineyards, Gallina – though the two couldn’t be more different despite their close proximity. The vineyard covers just over 11 acres of land at 230 meters elevation and planted with 55-year-old grapevines. The soil is blue-tinted calcareous marl, contributing to the wine’s overall spicy and mineral undertones. After harvest, fermentation and maceration occurs in temp-controlled vats for about 12 days, followed by malolactic in 30% new French oak barrels. Nineteen months of age time concludes before bottle aging for another seven months, all to develop the lovely layers and integrate the intricate flavor profile of the wine.

The result is something breathtaking – one of the greatest Barbarescos of our time, to be sure! Tons of red berries including summer-ripe strawberries, raspberries, and red cherries come together on the nose, with dusty shaved nutmeg sensations adding to the voluptuous opening. A mixed red berry compote with sun-baked orange zest come in on the tongue, with some enriching tobacco leaf, balsamic glaze, cacao, and grippy yet smooth tannins for a refined, compelling, and well-structured finish. This is absolute magic in a bottle – plus 96 points, free shipping on 3 or more bottles, and 36% off! It does NOT get much better than this, folks! Take advantage of our limited wares!

PAIRING IDEAS: Order your favorite Neopolitan pizza – or make a ‘za at home by flattening your dough as thin as you can get it, loading it with your favorite toppings (we’re going for red sauce, mozzarella, ricotta, soppressata, spicy Italian sausage, jalapeno, and a few dollops of green olive tapenade), and throw it in a screaming-hot oven for 12-15 minutes. Divine with this fine Barbaresco wine!

About the Producer

The Rivetti family story began in the 1890s when Giovanni Rivetti, grandfather to brothers Carlo, Bruno and Giorgio, left Piedmont for Argentina. In 1977 the family took up residence at LA SPINETTA (meaning "top of the hill") in Castagnole Lanze, located in the heart of the area well-known for Moscato d'Asti. They have since become pioneers in the renaissance of Barbaresco combining modern and tradition winemaking and finding international acclaim.