BARBARESCO
2016 Cottá Sottimano
Aromatic tar, balsamic, spice, leather and red fruits, undercut with hints of mocha, then some back notes of florality. In the mouth the wine displays bold rich tannins, herbs, cherry and plum, good seam of acid, then intense grip on the long finish.L&S (Jan 2019)
75cl bottles (case of 6)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
A beam of cherry courses through this rich red, shaded by floral, iron and tobacco accents. This is taut, finishing with dense tannins that make this suitable for the long haul. Shows fine balance and intensity, but patience is required. Drinking range: 2023 - 2045 Rating: 94 Bruce Sanderson, The Wine Spectator (Nov 2019)
The 2016 Barbaresco Cottà brings together the natural breadth of this site with the more refined style that has been in place here for some years, in an absolutely stunning, translucent wine that hits all the right notes. Sweet black cherry, lavender, spice and menthol all run through this richly, textured, deeply satisfying Barbaresco. The 2016 has so much energy and also so much depth. I absolutely loved it. Drinking range: 2022 - 2041 Rating: 95 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Nov 2019)
Concentrated ruby. Firm, youthful yet multi-layered on the nose. Generous fruit with full spread on the palate with fantastic, muscular but finely built tannins. Very long and with a firm grip. Truly tasty, long tannins. Drinking range: 2020 - 2030 Rating: 17.5 Walter Speller, www.jancisrobinson.com (May 2019)
The 2016 Barbaresco Cottà is dense and powerful, as it usually is, and yet the 2016 also has a level of freshness and translucency that is truly remarkable given the natural tendency of this site to produce big, somewhat monolithic wines. Lavender, sage and blueberry flavors are very nicely delineated, but it is the wine's balance and total sense of finesse that I find most appealing. There is just so much to admire. In fact, the 2016 may be the best Cottà I have tasted at Sottimano, and I say that having never been a huge fan of this cru. Drinking range: 2022 - 2036 Rating: 94+ 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.
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PIEDMONT LATEST RELEASES FAQ
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