"Tasting Teobaldo and Maria Rivella's wines is like stepping back into Piedmont's past." - Antonio Galloni
The wines of Serafino Rivella possess such honesty and precision that it's hard not to be wowed by them. There's something mysterious and special about these wines. They have plenty of finesse and feel devoid of artifice.
I tasted their 2016 Barbaresco Montestefano last fall and have been hunting down as many bottles as I could get my hands on. The wine blew me away.
I should say that this was no easy task. In any given vintage, they produce 750 cases of Montestefano along with a tiny amount of Dolcetto. For years, the wines of Serafino Rivella were only known to a small group of insiders. In the past few years, that's started to change quickly. When you combine the small production with a great vintage and a strong following, the situation is pretty ugly.
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Today, I'm happy to offer a modest parcel of Serafino Rivella's 2016 Barbaresco Montestefano for $99.95 on bottles and $94.95 in 4-packs.
The heart and soul of the estate is the Montestefano Cru, which is one of Barbaresco's best. The vineyard is directly outside of the family's house. Montestefano is famous above all else for how it marries elegance, detail, and intensity. It's a wine that soars with tightly coiled class.
The 2016 is an absolutely brilliant example of the breeding and complexity that Montestefano achieves in Rivella's hands. There's density, precision, silkiness, and incredible nuance. It possesses a radiant clarity, delivering spice, floral notes, herbs and hints of game. For all of its old-fashioned honesty, it comes off as sophisticated and nearly impeccable.
Teobaldo and Maria Rivella follow ultra-traditional methods. Their decidedly old-school philosophy yields savory and understated wines with a whispering complexity.
Serafino Rivella's Montestefano is one of the most compelling examples of Barbaresco. Sadly, there's never enough to go around. Please give us your ideal order, and we'll try our best
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits
