The 2018 Musso Barbaresco Rio Sordo comes from one of Barbarescos smallest yet most prestigious sitesa tiny, 1-hectare plot in the Rio Sordo cru, nestled between the rolling hills of Piedmont. This wine is a true reflection of the Musso familys long-standing connection to the land, a relationship that dates back to 1929, when Sebastiano Musso first laid the foundations of the winery during the Great Depression. He fought through hardship, turning a small vineyard in Barbaresco into the familys legacy, and now three generations later, his grandson Valter, along with Emanuele and Luca, continue to carry that torch.

Rio Sordos limestone and clay-rich soils bring a mineral freshness to the wine, but its the hands-on care in both vineyard and cellar that makes this 2018 vintage special. Hand-harvested and vinified with 20 days of maceration, this wine is aged for 24 months in large Slavonian oak barrels, followed by an additional 8 months in bottle before release. This careful process allows the wine to develop its characteristic aromas of wild berries, dried roses, and subtle spices like cinnamon and pink peppercorns.

On the palate, the 2018 Rio Sordo is a textbook Barbarescoelegant yet structured, with notes of dark cherry, apricot, and hints of tobacco. Theres a real depth here, with a firm tannic backbone that promises to soften beautifully over time. Its a wine that speaks to Mussos philosophy of letting the vineyard take centre stage, and at the same time, pays tribute to their almost 100-year dedication to crafting fine Nebbiolo.

The Rio Sordo is a natural partner for rich, earthy dishesthink slow-roasted meats, game, or handmade pasta with truffle. Drink it now, or cellar it for the next 1015 years. This is classic, small-production Barbaresco, built on tradition and crafted with the utmost respect for the land thats been in the family for nearly a century.

97 points
“Vibrant red right to the edges. A demure yet complex nose of raspberry and red cherry fruit, bouquet garni, fennel and a dusting of brown spice from the barrel. On the palate the wine is clean and bright with lovely mouthfeel, a delicate core of sweet fruit, a splash of orange peel acidity and spice piquancy, and then a rolling veil of lacy tannin fanning over the tongue and on to a seductively long finish. A young wine but already showing beautifully.”
– Stephen Blandford (The Real Review)