“Here’s a very pretty Barbaresco confidently placed in floral territory…” – James Suckling

Floral territory? 94 points and another pair of 93 ratings from Advocate and Suckling? For $30??

Yes please!

A Financial Times article titled “The beauty of Barbaresco” mentions Rizzi “among those producing polished renditions of great Barbaresco sites” concluding that Rizzi is one of the “leading Barbaresco producers” and what we have here is solid proof.

The same article hints at where to find great Barbaresco values. This one from Rizzi is a prime example considering their neighbors often clock in a double the price (or more). Pointing out that “everything said of Barolo finds a minor-key echo in Barbaresco. The best examples of both DOCGs are easily confused, even by experts; winemaking strategies often eclipse the whispered grace of place. Those who confine their buying to Barolo may be missing out, and moreover paying up.”

Simply put, this stands alongside a good many Barolos, for a fraction of the price. No doubt it drinks like a poor man’s GAJA or Giacosa!

And what a sexy, sophisticated wine it is. Rich, ripe and supple, it’s balanced with beautifully expressed berries, red plums, vanilla bean and exotic spices, smoothly playing the fruit, and toasty oak character off one another. Multilayered and approaching an early drinkability window - yet would immensely benefit from a few hours in the decanter…or a few years in your cellar. Might we suggest cooking up a classic dish from the region such as Tajarin al Tartufo? Truffles, tagliatelle, and Nebbiolo…ahhhh the mouth waters at the thought!

At the release price of $50, a bottle or two would be a no-brainer. At $30, you need it by the case.

While it lasts…

94 Points – John Gilman

“As the township of Treiso has the highest vineyard elevations in the Barbaresco D.O., the Dellapianas’ wines are always beautifully transparent and inherently elegant examples. Their Cru bottling of Rizzi is perhaps the most ethereal of their bottlings from this village, with an intensely red fruity personality that shares some similarities with Asili over in the township of Barbaresco proper. It is never as deep as Asili, but in has a similar aromatic and flavor profile, at least to my palate. The 2019 Rizzi from Enrico Dellapiana is outstanding, cherries, red plums, spit-roasted pigeon, rose petals, woodsmoke, curry, a beautiful base of white soils, mustard seed, camphor and a nice touch of spice tones in the upper register. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, transparent and shows off excellent red fruity mid-palate depth, with tangy acids, fine-grained tannins, great focus and grip and a long, complex, vibrant and impeccably balanced finish. Again, this absolutely roars to conclusion on the finish! Great juice. Drink 2033-2090.”

93 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“Here’s one of those fun occasions when a private estate name matches the MGA vineyard name. With fruit from the village of Treiso, the Rizzi 2019 Barbaresco Rizzi is austere and compact with a rich display of dark cherry and currant. Pretty layers of spice and leather fill in at the back, giving this wine a stronger sense of power and momentum. This vintage came out very nicely. Drink 2024-2036.”

93 Points – James Suckling

“Here’s a very pretty Barbaresco confidently placed in floral territory… Attractive sweet berry and cherry aromas with some flowers and light spices. Medium-bodied with linear tannins. Very textured. A balanced and pretty 2019. Drink in 2024 and onwards.”