2001 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Ovello

Double-decanted back into clean bottle after aerating in decanter for two hours. The 2001 vintage cru's are entering into a nice window of drinkability, exhibiting some tertiary character. 
The '01 Ovello has beautiful balance with black fruit, sweet tannin, balsam and truffle notes. Finish has developed a bit of complexity. Slightly bretty nose at first that moderated over the evening.
Two thumbs up  :) 

... from the Produttori website describing the Ovello Cru...

Vineyard size: 20.30 ha. (50 acres)
Exposure: South West and South East
Elevation: 250 - 320 meters (820 – 1050 feet)
Vineyard Owners: Audasso, Cavallo, Cravanzola, Gonella, Grasso, Maffei, Odore, Rocca, Sarotto, Unio, Vacca, Varaldo.

Ovello is the northernmost vineyard in the village of Barbaresco, higher on the sea level and dropping down to the river in a 300 feet, abrupt bluff. It is a relatively large area with a number of subzones with West and East exposure, all sharing a similar calcareous soils rich in clay. The extra clay and the cooler microclimate give the Ovello its exuberant and youthful quality in the fruit and its fuller body, which defines its distinctive personality. Explosive fruit on the palate and firm, sometime rough, tannins on the finish, these wines always bring a lot of joy to the palate and deliver powerful structure, that needs some years of bottle ageing to balance out. Domizio Cavazza had vineyards in Ovello (and Pora) when he started producing Barbaresco in 1894. It was also among the first 5 vineyards produced as single vineyard by Produttori in 1967.