The lovely 2019 Pora Riserva from Produttori del Barbaresco offers delicate scents recalling ripe red fruit, culinary spice, new leather and violet while the refined palate features juicy raspberry, liquor soaked cherry and licorice. Tightly-knit, velvety tannins provide enveloping support. Pora is known for its softer tannins and smoother character thank to its more fertile soil, and the these traits come through even in 2019, a vintage known for yielding wines with youthful austerity.

95 point

Deep red in color, the 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Pora has a stunningly layered and pure nose and a distilled feel, with aromas of raspberry liqueur, fresh lavender, wet stone, sweet earth, and fresh sage. It offers wonderful energy on the palate, with ripe, velvety tannins, and even though it’s medium-bodied, it’s not lacking for depth, revealing notes of tea leaf and bergamot on its long finish. It’s going to be an age-worthy wine to drink 2026-2046.

94 point

The Produtori del Barbaresco 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Pora represents a classic vintage that was cooler compared to 2020. This results in medium-plus concentration and a velvety texture. The bouquet shows blackberry, spice and sweet earth. This is a pretty wine with some grit to the tannins but otherwise shows a soft and accessible personality. More oxidative in character, this is great for near or medium-term drinking.

92 point

The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is a pretty tightly wound wine, certainly moreso than is typically the case for this Barbaresco, which is often much more engaging in the early going. Dried herbs, tobacco, cedar and earthiness lend notable savory nuance in this decidedly nervy, somber Pora. There's good fruit intensity and plenty of character that makes me want to revisit this in a few months' time.

93 point

Attractive notes of red currants and cherries with hints of cedar, walnuts and crushed stones. Juicy with bright fruit and firm, chalky tannins. Medium- to full-bodied. It’s lingering and lightly chewy at the end with notes of bitter oranges. Better after 2027.

94 point

Full of cherry, strawberry, rose, stone and spice flavors, this tightly knit red is both open and muscular, with refined tannins exerting themselves on the finish. Broad and intense, with plenty of energy on the finish.