2015 Massimo Rattalino Barbaresco Quarantadue42 DOCG 750 ml

Massimo Rattalino’s Barbaresco Quarantadue42 earned a 97-point score at the Decanter World Wine Awards, which not only won it a Platinum medal, but means that no Barbaresco at the event impressed the judges more. That performance was enough to put collectors all over the country on notice, which is why we’re thrilled that our members will be the only ones in the U.S. with access to an allocation. 

With a nose bursting with the Barbaresco calling cards of rose petal, violet, tobacco, and ripe cherries, the Rattalino has great energy and tension carrying a palate of mouthwatering dark cherry interwoven with cocoa, cranberry, and a hint of oak. Drinking beautifully with a long decant, the firm tannins should give this standout Barbaresco the legs to evolve for another decade. 

When the winter of 2015 brought enough snow to the steep hills of Barbaresco to ski down them, Massimo Rattalino was overjoyed. But not because of the opportunity for a speedy downhill. It was because he knew that the snow would melt into the soil, replenishing precious water reserves—a welcome gift after the drought-plagued 2014 vintage. 

After ski season ended in Barbaresco, Massimo’s Nebbiolo vines—planted 800 feet up on clay and calcareous soil—got off to a fast start as a warm spring caused early budbreak and flowering. In the summer, when conditions in Barbaresco were once again hot and dry, Massimo’s prediction came true: His Nebbiolo vines drank deeply from the winter reserves, and eked out tiny but immensely concentrated berries. Harvest came early, and the grape skins were thick, their colors were blue like midnight, and acids and sugars were in perfect balance. 

Not surprisingly, those grapes have produced an ethereal wine that is nothing short of amazing. Antonio Galloni of Vinous reported, “The finest 2015s are rich, ample and quite giving.” As one of only two 97-point Barbarescos at the 2019 Decanter World Wine Awards, this top-scoring stunner offers all of the above, with an added elegance that speaks to Massimo’s skill as a winemaker. Coaxing finesse and restraint in a hot vintage is no small feat, and Massimo has succeeded in spades. 

The 2015 Barbaresco is ripe and generous, but maintains great tension and energy through the long, cocoa-tinged finish. When you consider the pedigree on display in this transcendent Barbaresco, it’s truly incredible—especially with a price tag that falls under $50. We’ve got the only bottles in the country, and they’re up for grabs until they’re gone.