2009 La Spinetta Barbaresco "Vigneto Starderi", Piedmont, Italy

ABOUT THIS WINE The Vigneto Starderi comes from a prized southwest-facing vineyard in Neive, one of the key communes of Barbaresco. Planted with old-vine Nebbiolo in calcareous soils, the site is known for producing wines with intensity, tannic structure, and deep fruit concentration. The 2009 vintage was marked by warm temperatures and early ripening, leading to rich, powerful wines with generous texture and immediate appeal, though still with aging potential. La Spinetta's signature approach includes hand-harvesting, fermentation with native yeasts, and aging in 100% new French oak barrels for 22 months. The wine is then bottled without filtration and aged further before release. While this method imparts depth and spice, careful élevage ensures the vineyard’s identity remains intact. In 2009, Starderi presents as lush and ripe, but not lacking in Nebbiolo’s hallmark tension and aromatic lift. Now over 15 years old, the wine has begun to shed some of its youthful power, revealing sav