BARBARESCO
2015 Cottá Sottimano
Grapes | Nebbiolo |
Colour | Red |
Origin | Italy, Piedmont |
Other | Practising Organic, Bio-dynamic |
Village | Barbaresco |
ABV | 14% |
Vineyard | Cottá |
Light bricky red. More mature undergrowth-like aromas than on the 2019; still with red fruits but more dried than fresh. A suggestion of cherry liqueur yet without the sweetness. Tannins are dry, super-fine, and they are still the dominant attribute of this wine, in a good way. Drinking range: 2025 - 2035 Rating: 17.5 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Jul 2024)
Alternatively, we may well have some bottles in one of our shops - why not give us a call on 0207 244 0522 or send an email to: sales@leaandsandeman.co.uk.
Or, check the RELATED PRODUCTS below for different vintages or wines of a similar style.
The nose is initially shy but slowly reveals wild berry, exotic incense, aromatic herb and a whiff of toast. The firm palate is more expressive and is all about elegance, delivering crushed red cherry, raspberry compote, cinnamon and star anise while taut, fine-grained tannins provide support. It’s extremely young but already tempting so hold for even more complexity and to let the tannins unwind. Drink 2023–2035. Drinking range: 2023 - 2035 Rating: 95 Kerin O'Keefe, kerinokeefe.com (Sept 2023)
Light cherry red. So pretty and scented with sour cherry and spice but it's fruit not oak spice. Firm, chalky texture and a definite chalky/mineral character overall. Drinking range: 2020 - 2030 Rating: 17 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2019)
Sottimano's 2015 Barbaresco Cottà is powerful, dense and brooding. Today the big, potent tannins somewhat constrict the mid-palate and finish. It will be interesting to see if the 2015 fleshes out with time in bottle. While that may happen, I expect the 2015 will always remain a bit rough around the edges, certainly within the context of the finest Sottimano Barbarescos of recent vintages. Smoke, grilled herbs, plum and firm, chunky tannins all give the 2015 Cottà its burly potent feel. Drinking range: 2022 - 2030 Rating: 92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Oct 2018)
Sottimano
The next generation of Andrea, Elena and Claudia Sottimano are now at the helm here and this exquisite estate continues to make better and better wines - some of the finest in Barbaresco. This sixteen hectare estate is based in the Cotta' region of Barbaresco, and the Sottimano family have over the years bought outstanding vineyards in the 'crus' of Currà, Cottà, Fausoni, Pajore and Basarin. In the vineyard they work organically and aim to limit yields. The winemaking is as low-intervention as possible, using only natural yeasts and then bottling without filtering or fining. All of these 'crus' are given exactly the same élevage, so as to allow the individual 'terroirs' to express their character. Terroir expression is the target here - and these amazing wines are as much an education as a joy to drink.
There are five different crus - each with very specific attributes where they produce their distinctly different Barbarescos. The latest edition is Basarin, with a mixture of clay, limestone and sand, is at about four hundred metres above sea level. This produces the estate's Langhe Nebbiolo, which is basically 'village Barbaresco', as the vines are very young (10-15 years old). It makes for wines that are always very elegant, refined, tannins are silky and softer, nuanced of spices and herbs (eucalyptus).
Fausoni, on sand and clay, makes wines that are always very elegant - mint, liquorice and little red fruits. This is in the historical part of Neive.
Currà, on clay and limestone, is one of the smallest cru of the whole appellation, wines are always very intense and powerful, hard-bodied and with good tannins. Hints of spices and smoke are characteristics of this area.
Cottà, on limestone with clay is one of the oldest cru in Barbaresco, vines are always very old here (fifty years and older) and the colours are just a little bit lighter than other vineyards (because of the clay), but they have a very distinctive nose of dark fruits and mint, a great elegance and mineral tannins.
Pajore is almost entirely on limestone with just a little clay. This is the highest vineyard of all, at 420 metres above sea level. The vines are very old, and it is always the most mineral and elegant of the four Barbarescos. Limestone brings into the wine a great purity of fruit, a distinctive aroma of spices and tobacco (cigar box) and a very unusual quality of tannins, firm but very mineral.
- For full delivery details see our Delivery page.
- We offer free nationwide* delivery for all orders over £150 with our own vans. We also offer an express delivery service for an additional charge.
- Order & Collect from any of our 5 London shops. Order by Midnight for collection the next working day from 11am.
- Private wine storage: we offer a full In Bond and Duty Paid private wine storage service - find out more here.
ORDER COLLECT
ORDER ONLINE AND COLLECT FROM ONE OF OUR SHOPS