Highlighting four Crus in Barbaresco: Montestefano, Marcorino, Rio Sordo and Tre Stelle. And a special offer for MWC storage clients below.
Every Piedmont lover knows the legends of Barolo: Bartolo, Rinaldi, Cappellano. Just to name a few. In Barbaresco, that same uncompromising torch is carried by two tiny estates: Serafino Rivella and Cascina delle Rose. Cellar-wise, both are staunch traditionalists who refuse to chase modern trends. But their terroir tells two wildly different stories: Rivella brings Barolo-like power, while Cascina delle Rose delivers sheer, lifted elegance.
When importer Doug Polaner was first tipped off to Serafino Rivella by Berry Bros & Rudd's David Berry Green, the endorsement was simple: "Imagine if Maria Teresa made Barbaresco. It would taste like that." Working just 2.5 hectares in the Montestefano Cru, Teobaldo and Maria Rivella bottle barely 750 cases of this wine a year. Their approach is traditional: month long macerations, up to forty months resting in neutral botti, and an aging regime consistent with that of Barolo, which is why the wine releases a full year behind its neighbors.
On the ethereal side of that spectrum sits Cascina delle Rose. Giovanna Rizzolio was a quiet pioneer in the region. Back in the '80s, when organic farming was rare and female vignaioli were even rarer, she committed to farming her family's parcels with minimal intervention and maximum respect for the dirt.
Today, Giovanna and her sons farm barely 5.5 hectares, producing wines defined by hand picking, large cask aging, and an absolute refusal to chase trends. Originally centered on Rio Sordo, the estate helped put Tre Stelle on the map when the crus were officially delineated in 2006, proving that its shallow topsoil and high limestone content yielded a completely distinct, linear style. With their 2018 acquisition of ancient vines in Marcorino, they have assembled one of the most compelling, terroir transparent lineups in the appellation.
Today I am thrilled to offer these two of Barbaresco's best side by side. The quickest way to secure your wines is by using the links below. As always, we are here for questions at shop@mwcwine.com.
Serafino Rivella
2022 Barbaresco Montestefano — 12+ btls @ $149.99/btl
The soil is nearly a solid meter of active limestone over veins of tufo underneath, planted to vines dating back to 1963. Opening these bottles today brings back the exact same thrill I felt fifteen years ago, back when I thought I had stumbled upon the Langhe's best kept secret. This wine delights the senses as every beautiful bottle of Nebbiolo should.
Cascina delle Rose
2023 Barbaresco Tre Stelle — 12 btls @ $112/btl
Steep slopes of bluish marl veined with active limestone and sand bring a lifted mineral and crystalline structure to the fine grained tannin.
2023 Barbaresco Rio Sordo — 12 btls @ $112/btl
A sheltered natural amphitheater of calcareous limestone and sand. Always broader and more savory than Tre Stelle.
2023 Barbaresco Marcorino — 12 btls @ $112/btl
Ancient vines planted in 1944 in Neive on older layered sandstone (arenaria), silt, and clay. This wine always has the most structure. A Barolo lover's Barbaresco.
MWC Storage Client Offer
Send any 6+ bottle mix of these to storage and receive 10% off the wines with code BARBARESCO10 at checkout. Discount not applicable with other discounts. Not a storage client yet? Learn more about wine storage at MWC.
Cheers,
Kimberly Cavoores
Wine & Experience Director
