1985 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Rabaja

The 1985s made for a fascinating comparison, as they were made by an oenologist who lasted all of two years at the property. Fermentation and maceration times were considerably shorter than what was customary before and after, and this change in winemaking techniques, along with the warm vintage, made for a set of Barbarescos that lacked the complexity of the estate's finest wines. That said, all of these 1985 were at peak, and we caught them at an optimal stage in their development. The 1985 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà was big and powerful yet despite its impressive fruit, the wine lacked the delineation of the finest vintages.