Rizzi Barbaresco Vigneto Nervo 2020 750 ML

Out of all the brilliant Rizzi range of Barbaresco, I have a bit of a soft spot for the Nervo bottling. It doesn’t carry the gravitas of their Pajore plot but I love the understatement in the wine with its lilting and delicate aromatics and fine, detailed palate. Pure, with a lovely austerity on the back end.nnIn 2020, it strikes me as just a touch more open so the red fruits and bruised strawberry jump up a little more than usual, and the dusting of spice, red petals, dried mint and cut hay aromatics are beautifully accessible. So much so, it’s hard to draw yourself away to actually drink the thing. But, when you do the just-right-ripeness gives you fruit that ranges from raspberry to cranberry all draped in complexing brown spice. The structure is there but like all Nervos, it’s fine and ever so long giving the balancing austerity of powdery tanins to the effusiveness of the fruit. I love it. MICHAEL MCNAMARA, PWSnnEnticingly fragrant, the 2020 Nervo from Rizzi opens with heady aromas of crushed berry, Alpine herb, pressed rose and whiffs of new leather and spice. Elegantly structured and savory, the full-bodied palate features ripe raspberry, juicy cherry, star anise, hints of baking spice and blood orange. Taut refined tannins and fresh acidity keep it well balanced.