Wine Description
The Riserva wine is produced only in the best vintages and is designated Riserva with the famous 'Red' Giacosa label. This wine comes from a careful selection of Nebbiolo grapes from the Asili vineyard. The soil is primarily clay, limestone and sand. The harvest took place in early October, with a yield of less than 1 ton per acre. The grapes were perfectly healthy and ripe, benefiting from a hot and dry summer. To achieve structure and longevity, refinement took place in French oak for 30 months. Barbaresco Asili Riserva is extremely elegant, with a velvety softness of mature and integrated fruit.
Tasting Notes
Deep color with intense flavors of black cherry, chocolate and cedar. Subtle floral hints on the nose. The elegance of this wine stands out. Rich tannins and well-balanced acidity. Recommended with roasted/grilled red and white meats. Always delicious with cheese.
Reviews
Wine Spectator - December 15, 2008
96 points
Gambero Rosso - 2009
Recipient of Italy's coveted "Tre Bicchieri", or 3 Glasses award for 2009.
Tre Bicchieri Recipient
Wine Spectator - June 18, 2008
Wine Spectator Insider Special Report: Piedmont
"Aromas of strawberry and candle wax develop to cherry and light incense. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and lots of fruit. This is focused and very well done, but really tight at the moment. Very structured. Needs time. This is the red label, to be released in spring 2009. Best after 2014."
96 points
International Wine Cellar - Issue 135: Nov/Dec 2007
Focus on Barolo and Barbaresco
"Good medium red. Very ripe nose melds fresh red fruits, exotic Indian spices (coriander?), marzipan and deep nutty oak. Sweet, layered and deep, with highly concentrated flavors and powerful underlying structure. A wine of uncanny sweetness and breadth: this really coats the entire mouth. Finishes with substantial but suave and ripe tannins and outstanding persistence. This should make a great bottle. It's easy to see why this is Giacosa's only riserva Barbaresco from the '04 vintage."
96+ points
Wine Advocate - Issue #173 / October 2007
Barbaresco 2004: Barbaresco Comes of Age
Barolo 2003: Better Than Expected
"The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is even more compelling than the Rabaja. It floats on the palate with an ethereal core of sweet fruit that calls to mind a profound Musigny, but with the unmistakable structure of Nebbiolo. The perfumed purity of the fruit carries all the way through to the deeply satisfying, resonating finish. Made in a soft, seductive style, this remarkable wine is decidedly more approachable and easy to appreciate today than the Rabaja. Giacosa fans will have a great time discussing the merits of the Rabaja and the Asili in 2004, but to me they are virtually equally moving; Asili for its feminine gracefulness and Rabaja for its size and power. The Asili should prove more accessible at an earlier age. Bruno Giacosa says his 2004 Asili Riserva will turn out to be just like his 2000 Asili Riserva, the wine he still thinks is the best he’s ever made. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025."
98 points
