2017 Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva Barbaresco

Rabajà produces a quintessential Barbaresco, one of the most complete and balanced of the single vineyards. The vineyard lies between the two main ridges that form the Barbaresco village, one starting at Rabajà and going West towards the Tanaro River and the other one that goes from Rabajà to Ovello, South to North. The meeting of these two different soils give Rabajà its incredible complexity. Bordering both Asili and Muncagota it combines the personality of those two great vineyards with and extra richness due to the South/West warm exposure.

Other Reviews....
The Produttori del Barbaresco 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is another spectacular release from this cooperative winery that hits it out of the ballpark with each set of new releases. That impressive track record includes this wine that delivers extreme focus, depth and integrity. The bouquet is very clear cut with dark cherry, tart plum, spice and blood orange, but it is also complex and fluid. It offers new perspectives with each swirl of the glass. From a hot vintage, the Rabajà is smooth, powerful and balanced. I would bet on long aging for this bottle. 14,438 bottles were produced. Drink 2025 - 2050.
96+ points
Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Jun 2022)

The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a potent, searingly tannic wine that will need a few years to come together. Brooding and backward, even for young Rabajà, the 2017 is painfully young today. It will be interesting to see what time brings. Today, the 2017 is a real powerhouse. Black fruit, menthol, licorice, melted road tar, game and menthol develop in the glass, but only with great reluctance. Drink 2027-2039.
94 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous

Dense, featuring fruit flavors of plum, cherry and raspberry, with accents of tar, eucalyptus and iron. A powerful red that needs time to resolve the muscular tannins, with plenty of ripe fruit coursing underneath. Best from 2026 through 2043.
95 points
Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

This fragrant, full-bodied red has aromas of iris, woodland berry, dark spice and cedar. Firmly structured but also showing finesse, the savory palate exhibits fleshy raspberry, ripe black cherry and licorice framed in tightly knit, fine-grained tannins. Best from 2024 to 2029.
95 points
Kerin O'Keefe - Wine Enthusiast