James Suckling 95
Vivid, bright fruit with strawberries, flowers and orange peel on the nose. Full-bodied, round and tannic, yet theres lots of fresh, ripe fruit with some citrus undertones. Needs two or three years to soften. Better after 2023. James Suckling, July 2020

Vinous 93
The 2017 Barbaresco Bordini is a potent wine. A blast of black cherry, mocha, spice, sage, earthiness, licorice and smoke gives the Bordini a real sense of gravitas. Neive Barbarescos are known for their breadth. There is certainly plenty of size here. The 2017 is not exactly understated or elegant, but instead packs a serious punch that, not surprisingly, leans into the realm of Barolo. Antonio Galloni, October 2020

Wine Spectator 92
Camphor, cherry, plum and tar notes highlight this brawny Barbaresco. There is a core of ripe fruit, and the lively acidity keeps this focused on the long aftertaste. Tips to the tannins in the balance. Best from 2023 through 2040. 360 cases made. Bruce Sanderson, November 2020

Wine & Spirits 92
Valter Fissore makes this wine from a 2.5 acre plot in the Neive commune. It comes across as broad-shouldered in the warm 2017 vintage, the dark-cherry flavors accented by subtle spice and supported by firm, mineral tannins. Stephanie Johnson, December 2020

Our production range is rounded off by this great expression of the nebbiolo grape. Like Cognos other wines, the Barbaresco is also elegant and structured, but with a fiercely independent character. This isnt a Barbaresco out to imitate its cousin Barolo, but a wine that demands respect for its full, strong identity, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. Here we have a Barolo producer going against the grain to gamble on Barbaresco; instead of keeping a distance, Cogno grabs the chance to come to terms with a historical wine that is another supreme expression of the Langhe hills. This wine is born of the invaluable collaboration of a friend and producer in Neive. It is thanks to him that the Cogno family has been able to embark on this new adventure.

Vineyard Profile
Vineyards: 100% Nebbiolo da Barbaresco
Grape Source: 100% estate vineyards within the Bordini cru, located halfway up the hill
Cultivation: Vertical trellising, Guyot pruning, 100% organic (not yet certified)
Size: 1 hectare (2.47 acres)
Vine Age: 30 years old
Soil: Medium-textured calcareous
Elevation: 250 meters (820 feet) above sea level
Exposure: Southern
Density: 4,000 vines/hectare (1,619 vines/acre)

Vintage Report
After several heavy snow falls in the wintertime; the beginning of the spring was quite hot with some rain that allowed the growing cycle to start earlier than usual. Towards the end of April, the sharp drop in temperatures recorded especially overnight caused some frost damage, but only at the bottom of the valleys and on cooler slopes, in fact none of our vineyards were affected. Starting from May, the weather was hot and dry, enhancing a perfectly even fruit set followed by a quick veraison. These dry conditions, even if considered extraordinary, did not negatively affect the growing cycle because of the reserve of water from the winter snow. By the end of August and September, the cool nights helped to develop perfect phenolic ripening. Harvest was about 7 to 10 days earlier than usual.

Vinification
Fermentation: 100% in stainless steel, temperature-controlled, automatic pump over, post-fermentation maceration for 20 days with submerged cap, 100% with indigenous yeast
Malolactic: 100% in steel fermenters
Aging: 12-14 months barrel-aging in large, used Slavonian oak; bottle-aged for 6 months. Bottled without filtration

Technical Information
Alcohol: 14.5%
TA: 5.80 g/L
RS: 0.67 g/L

Tasting Notes
The 2017 Barbaresco Bordini is a joyful expression of fresh red berries and sweet spices, with an incredible texture of tannins that will develop sip after sip. It is vibrant with a vertical acidity that keeps the wine up until the end, with a long, complex and refreshing aftertaste.