World-class Barbaresco imported by Kermit Lynch for less than 40 bucks? Sign me up, and I can say with 100% certainty that this is the greatest Barbaresco value I've encountered in my 20+ year wine career. Vintage 2019 provided great conditions to produce wonderful wines in the Piedmont, and proof of that is contained inside this bottle of highly aromatic, heavenly Nebbiolo.
"The 2019s are deep, layered Barbarescos that show the heights of what is possible here." - Antonio Galloni - Vinous Media
"Plenty of concentration in these 2019s is a breath of fresh air after the light 2018 vintage." - Aldo Fiordelli - Decanter
2019 Cantine Elvio Tintero Barbaresco
Offers up stunning aromas and flavors of ripe cherry, raspberry, mint, and spice. Incredibly quality-to-price ratio here. - 94+ points - Yours Truly
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Kermit Lynch originally started representing this estate because they made world-class Moscato. Yes, Moscato can be a wonderful wine in the hands of a good producer, and Marco Tintero continues to make one of the best, but we're not here to talk about Moscato. We're talking about Barbaresco, one of Italy's most prized red wines, and the Tintero family knocked it out of the park with their 2019.
I was hyper-critical when I tasted this one, as I haven't had a decent Barbaresco or Barolo at the sub-$40 price point for years. Typically, at those lower price points, you get very thin, washed out, and astringent wines, but that's not the case here. This is so expressive, and it would totally give Produttori del Barbaresco's entry-point wine a serious run for its money. There is a style, a finesse, and an overall balance and complexity in this wine that lets you know you're drinking the good stuff.
Those familiar with the Kermit Lynch portfolio know that every wine is carefully selected, and Kermit doesn't bring in wines just to hit desirable price points. Tintero's Barbaresco is a prime example of that, and I personally think it should command a $50+ price point. From 30+ year-old vines in the village of Neive (crus Balluri and Bricco di Neive), this sees fermentation in tank, followed by 12 to 18 months of aging in large, old oak casks. It is bottled without fining or filtration, and the finished vino is magnificent.
This is a wine that really gives you a sense of what Nebbiolo from Barbaresco is all about. Graceful and ethereal, structured and complex, this offers up soaring notes of sweet cherry, dark currant, eucalyptus, clove, rose petal, violet, and more. On the palate, there's that classic tension and structure that Nebbiolo is known for, but there's also a lovely ripeness that allows you to enjoy this right out of the gate. Don't think you can't lay this down though; I guarantee you this will taste even better in 5-7 years, and it won't start to fade until well past 2032 or 2033.
The ugly side to this very pretty picture is the quantities. This is a very small production wine and only about 200 cases made their way into the United States. Luckily, my old buddy Richard McKinney of Tryon Distributing snagged me the lion's share of what made it to North Carolina this year. You will not want to waste time placing your order on this one. Trust me....
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Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville