Description

97 points Decanter  Complex and invigorating raspberry, mint and liquorice nose. Fresh, silky attack with polished tannins, concentration and great depth of fruit. Structured, spicy, complex and long, this is outstanding and will age well. (SB)   (1/2019)

97 points Wine Enthusiast  Editor’s Choice: This has a lovely, alluring nose that evokes rose, iris, woodland berry, new leather and cake spice along with a whiff of camphor. It’s focused and delicious, with juicy Marasca cherry, star anise, clove and mocha flavors framed in taut, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. KO (9/2019)** 

Not to boast, but it was just a few years ago when I was the link for finding the Musso family an importer to bring these wines to America for the very first time.  We have a beautiful magnum in original wood box of Musso’s 2013 Pora Barbaresco in our cellar, gifted to us by the family for Christmas as a thank you gesture for our efforts.

The winery was first established in the village of Barbaresco in 1929 by Sebastiano Musso.  It has a long history of traditional farming and wine making in the region.  Musso continues to be a family business.  Valter Musso began working as a young winemaker at the family’s ten hectare estate in the mid 1980’s.  His son Emanuele works to market the wines (about 7,000 cases are produced annually), while grandson Luca Accornera manages the vineyards.   They are all humble and hard working people.

Although Barbera, Dolcetto, Langhe Rosso, Chardonnay and Arneis are produced, the Musso’s are most famous for their two Cru Nebbiolo vineyards; Rio Sordo and Pora.   It seems like a never ending theme with me, but my fondness and passion for certain varietals planted in vineyards with limestone substrata is reason enough to attracted me to the 2.5 hectare (6.5 acre) Pora vineyard site.  So as not to take up too much space, for more information about this vineyard and wine please go to http://mussobarbaresco.it/eng/index.php/menu/barbaresco-pora-docg/

A word to the wise!  The 2016 vintage in northern Italy, especially in Barbaresco and Barolo, is simply one of the best ever.  As is telltale to this vineyard even in just a good growing season, the aromas are alone worth the price of admission…….but here they are brilliant and magnificent.   Now, you can stand in line and pay $200+ a bottle for neighboring Angelo Gaja’s Barbaresco on release…….but why?  The ratings are yet to come from Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, Galloni and Suckling…..but two of the finest and most respected critics have both rated the 2016 Musso Pora Barbaresco at 97 points. ** Kerin O’Keefe, the Italian editor for Wine Enthusiast is consider one of the world’s foremost authorities on Barolo and Barbaresco.  Highly recommend her book “Barolo and Barbaresco: The King and Queen of Italian Wine” which has become a reference point for the region and its phenomenal wines.