The 2007 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is another fabulous wine. It is completely different than the Montefico, even though the vineyards are literally next to each other. The Montestefano shows quite a bit more fruit than the Montefico, with silky, polished tannins that convey an impression of sensual elegance. Crushed flowers, mint, licorice and dark red cherries are some of the notes that wrap around the deep finish. This is a fabulous Montestefano. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2032. The 2007 Riservas saw a lengthy period of four or more weeks on the skins. The wines spent a total of three years in oak, the first year in 25-35 HL casks, an additional 12-18 months in larger 50-75 HL casks, and a final 6-12 months back in the smaller casks. When the 2007 Riservas were younger, the personality of the vintage was quite apparent, but as the wines have aged the site specificity of these great vineyards has begun to emerge. The 2007 Riservas are big wines that should drink well upon release, but they also appear to have enough structure to develop beautifully in the cellar. Importer: Vias Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 629-0200