2004 Produttori del Barbaresco, Barbaresco, Paje Riserva 1x75cl

Antonio Galloni 94

Another stellar wine from the Produttori, the 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Paje offers up a super-classic bouquet laced with crushed flowers, autumn leaves, mint and dried cherries. Powerful, incisive and focused to the core, the 2004 hits all the right notes. This is an especial rendition of Paje. [Antonio Galloni, 06/01/2016]

Anticipated maturity: 2016-2029

Stephen Tanzer 90

Good full red. Deeply pitched, cooler aromas of sour cherry and licorice. Suave, concentrated and nicely balanced, with an edge of acidity contributing to the wine’s restrained character. But this is nicely broad and ripe too, and finishes with very good energy and length. The wine’s firm tannic spine becomes more apparent with aeration. [Stephen Tanzer, 11/01/2009]

Wine Advocate 94

The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Paje achieves a remarkable marriage of elegance and power. It’s all here as this vibrant, pure Barbaresco engages the intellectual and pleasure-seeking senses with an endless array of dark cherries, menthol, licorice, spices and espresso. This wonderfully complete, full-bodied Barbaresco needs some time for the tannins to settle down, but it is truly a special wine in every way. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. Managing Director Aldo Vacca had some interesting things to say about the 2004 vintage in Barbaresco. a oeI wasn’t initially convinced about the quality of the vintage until I had the wines fermenting in the cellar, something I also experienced in 1978,a says Vacca. a oe The summer wasn’t especially hot, but the Fall was gorgeous, and our harvest took place during the second half of October. Given that yields were on the high side, I felt we needed to be especially selective in the cellar, so we produced roughly 30% less of some of our Riservas by using only the best individual lots for wines like our Ovello, Montestefano and Moccagatta Riservas. Any lots we weren’t thrilled about went into our non-Riserva Barbaresco. In 2004 vineyard exposures were a huge factor in determining maturity, while 2005 was perhaps a touch more consistent throughout, but without the complexity and structure of the 2004s.a Readers who have a hard time finding the 2004s, shouldn’t fret, as the Produttori will also release Riservas for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 vintages, so there will be plenty of wine in the pipeline over the next few years. Given the weakness in the US dollar, readers may want to quickly snap up any remaining stocks of the 2001 Riservas as well. Importer: Vias Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 629-0200 [Antonio Galloni, 30/10/2008]

Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024