2021 Produttori del Barbaresco - Barbaresco DOCG Riserva Rabaja (750ml)

Produttori del Barbaresco traces its origins to 1958, when the parish priest of Barbaresco brought together nineteen small growers to pool their resources, believing cooperation was the only way modest family plots could survive. From those first vintages made in a church basement, the cooperative has grown into a fifty-two member operation farming roughly 250 acres, nearly a sixth of the entire Barbaresco appellation, and today produces a range that includes nine celebrated single-vineyard Riservas alongside its classic blend.

Rabajà comes from a roughly twelve-acre cru where two of Barbaresco's ridges converge, its southwest exposure giving the Nebbiolo vines long afternoon sun and a touch more warmth than neighboring sites. Only made in strong vintages, the Riserva is set aside for an extra year of aging beyond the standard bottling, and 2021 is considered an exceptional, structured year across the appellation. This particular release yielded a modest quantity of bottles and magnums.

The wine pours a deep, jewel-toned red and opens with layers of fresh cherry, redcurrant, violet, and licorice over a base of crystalline minerality. Medium to full-bodied, it carries firm, polished tannins, savory tobacco accents, and real structural depth, built for extended cellaring. It pairs well with braised beef, aged cheeses, or roasted game.