2017 Barbaresco

This was my first visit to Cantina del Pino following Renato Vacca's untimely passing in 2020 at just 51 years of age. When you visit a region over an arc of many years, you experience so many things that are beautiful, and then some things that aren't. Seeing a young life tragically cut short is among the latter. That sense of loss was so present during my most recent tasting at the estate. Renato Vacca's widow, Franca, is moving the estate forward in what are surely difficult circumstances for her young family. Hopefully she will continue to forge ahead. As for the 2017s, they are big, potent Barbarescos that carry the strong imprint of the year. The wines are definitely on the richer side. I would prefer to cellar them for at least a few years. Historically, the Cantina del Pino Barbarescos need at least a few years in bottle to truly shine. The 2017s are the current release as the estate favors relatively long élevage (24 months in 20/25hL cask) followed by a period of aging in bottle prior to putting the wines on the market.