Back to wine list
2019 BARBARESCO Fausoni Sottimano, Lea & Sandeman

BARBARESCO

2019 Fausoni Sottimano

IN STOCK
Grapes Nebbiolo
Colour Red
Origin Italy, Piedmont
Village Barbaresco
ABV 14%
Vineyard Fausoni

Clay and sandy soils. Light bricky red. Complex aromas of maturing red fruits, sweet cherry – intense and vibrant. More depth and power here than on the Basarin, more firmly structured by the tannins, so it is a little tongue-tied in the mouth and needs time (and definitely food). Yet, even with all this depth of chalky tannins, there's juicy fruit at the core. Fine harmony and length. Power without heaviness. Drinking range: 2025 - 2039 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Jul 2024)

*Case price discount: Mix any 12 bottles of wine (or 9 litre equivalent) or 6 bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Sweet Wine or Fortified (4.5 litres) to get the discounted 'case price' for each bottle.

Enticing aromas of rose, iris, culinary spice and botanical herb take shape in the glass along with whiffs of crushed berry on this fragrant red. The focused, linear palate is still tightly wound and austere, offering juicy red cherry, star anise and thyme set against bright acidity and firm, close-grained tannins. It’s loaded with nervous energy and needs time but already shows great class. Drink 2029–2044. Drinking range: 2029 - 2044 Rating: 96 Kerin O'Keefe, kerinokeefe.com (Apr 2024)

The 2019 Barbaresco Fausoni is a terrific example of the work that has been done here, especially over the last few years, to give the wines greater finesse. Deeply pitched aromatics meld into a huge core of fruit as this expressive, translucent Barbaresco opens. I admire the delineation and focus here. Bright red-toned fruit, white pepper, mint and chalk abound. There's tremendous purity of fruit here, while the balance is just stunning. Drinking range: 2026 - 2041 Rating: 96 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Oct 2022)

A rich and round style, this red boasts plum, cherry and black currant flavors, with accents of earth, iron and menthol. Well put-together, even if the tannins are dense and assertive on the finish. Delivers earth and spice notes that linger. Drinking range: 2025 - 2045 Rating: 94 Bruce Sanderson, The Wine Spectator (Oct 2022)

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.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
  • 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.

RELATED PRODUCTS

ORDER     COLLECT

ORDER ONLINE AND COLLECT FROM ONE OF OUR SHOPS