Sottimano

Helles Rubinrot. Bric del Salto interpretiert auf direkte und klassische Art die berühmte piemonteser Rebsorte. Fruchtiges Bouquet verbindet sich mit der für Neive typischen Würze. Am Gaumen wiederum klar, mit präziser Frucht, der richtigen Dosis feinen Tannins - und über allem liegt eine begeisternde Frische. SUPERIORE.DE

"The fruit is delicate, and the mineral notes come out very strongly here. It is almost crunchy in terms of mouthfeel. This was a hot year, but you’d never know it with this wine because it has an oddly cool-climate personality. It's very floral and delicate on the nose with notes of blossoming rose. There is a refined or, you might say, even traditional side to this wine that you don’t often see in its peers." Robert Parker

Granatrot mit hellrotem Rand. Schönes Aroma roter Früchte, durchwirkt mit einer subtilen Gewürz-Ader. Mit etwas Belüftung bereits heute ein sehr feiner, betörender Tropfen, der mit seiner Saftigkeit einen wunderbaren Trinkfluss erzeugt. SUPERIORE.DE

"Leesy breadcrumb nose and still a little closed. Succulent red fruit with a little vanilla pick-up from the cask. Very fine and elegant and quite tannic on the finish." Jancis Robinson

"Round, with cherry, earth and tar flavors, this red offers fine balance and freshness. Finishes long, with an aftertaste of underbrush and cherry." Wine Spectator

"The 2015 Langhe Nebbiolo is a very pretty wine. Sweet floral notes, bright, red-toned fruit and silky tannins give the wine its poise and sense of finesse. Medium in body, lift and super-appealing, the Langhe Nebbiolo is a fabulous choice for readers who want a fine, artisan Nebbiolo to drink young that does not have the imposing structure of Barolo or Barbaresco." VINOUS

"Located in the Nieve area, Sottimano sources fruit for this wine from across the larger Langhe appellation. The 2015 Langhe Nebbiolo is a terrific, mid-weight wine to pair with white meat, roasted ham or chicken. It opens to a light garnet color and offers great aromatic intensity. I wish I had a few more bottles of this (well-priced) wine around the house. Dark cherry is followed by earthy tones, licorice and ash." Robert Parker

Purpurrot mit schwarz-violetten Reflexen. Herrlich konzentrierter und extraktreicher Barbera mit der richtigen Mischung aus Kraft, Frucht und Saftigkeit. Etwas Pflaumenkonfitüre, schwarze Schokolade und Gewürze vereinen sich zu einem dunkelfruchtigen Geschmacksfeuerwerk, welches von fein poliertem Tannin umrahmt und bis in einen langen Abgang begleitet wird. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2015 Barbera d'Alba Pairolero is gorgeous. Pliant, supple and beautifully resonant on the palate, the 2015 exudes class. Longer macerations and a kiss of new French oak gives the wine volume and texure to match the radiant, dark red-fleshed fruits. Two years on the lees with no racking results in a refined, gracious Barbera with more finesse than this wine had some years ago." VINOUS

"Dark tones of black cherry, plum and chocolate mark this brooding red. The dense texture and dusty tannins suggest this will evolve over the next several years. Fine length." Wine Spectator

"The delightful 2015 Barbera d'Alba Superiore Pairolero offers rich smoothness and ripe fruit intensity. The Barbera grape loves a warm vintage, and that's exactly what it gets here. You can almost feel the happiness radiating off the dark fruit at the core. Only 10% of the wine is aged in new oak barrels. Some 12,000 bottles were made, and the wine offers terrific value. Pairolero is a blend of fruit from the Basarin and San Cristoforo vineyards in Neive." Robert Parker

Purpurrot mit schwarz-violetten Reflexen. Herrlich konzentrierter und extraktreicher Barbera mit der richtigen Mischung aus Kraft, Frucht und Saftigkeit. Etwas Pflaumenkonfitüre, schwarze Schokolade und Gewürze vereinen sich zu einem dunkelfruchtigen Geschmacksfeuerwerk, welches von fein poliertem Tannin umrahmt und bis in einen langen Abgang begleitet wird. SUPERIORE.DE

"Hints of lavender, sage and blue/purplish berry fruit add myriad shades of this understated, gracious Barbera. In the 2016, readers will find a gorgeous wine that is also much less bombastic in style than in the past." Vinous

"The fruit for the 2016 Barbera d'Alba Superiore Pairolero comes from the top-lying parts of Basarin, most of it from 40-, 50- and 60-year-old vines. It pours to a ruby color, having endured 25 days of maceration, just a few days of submersed cap and then about two years in oak. It spends those years on the less, and the Sottimano family counts on bottling it for as long as they can, to put the brakes on the wine, so to speak. This technique was learned in Burdgundy. What comes out of this process is a Barbera d'Alba that shows the power of the vintage yet is extremely well made, fresh and elegant." Robert Parker

Transluzentes Purpur mit einem frischen, granatroten Rand. Das Bouquet ist ein Potpourri aus getrockneten Früchten, Zartbitter-Schokolade und zarter Nougat-Note. Eröffnet am Gaumen fruchtig-samtig und wird mit seiner Geradlinigkeit samt herrlich eingebundener Säure noch viele Jahre Freude machen. SUPERIORE.DE

"Broad-shouldered, with cherry, loam and licorice notes, this red boasts well-appointed tannins and bright acidity. Complex and chewy on the long finish." Wine Spectator

"Showing elegance and grace starting with the first sip, the 2015 Barbaresco Fausoni also reveals power and integration. You get both sides of the spectrum with this wine: silk and muscle. The bouquet emits aromas of pressed blue flower, rose hip, dried red currant, spice and fine licorice. The finish is compact and long in persistence." Robert Parker

"Deep, plum and floral nose, then a ripe and generous palate with considerable tannic power, but also very good balance. The dry, quite minerally finish is long and intense." James Suckling

"Just bottled, the 2015 Barbaresco Fausoni possesses a level of volume and intensity to a degree I have not seen in this wine before. Sweet, perfumed and super-inviting, the 2015 is going to be nearly impossible to resist in its youth. Virtually seamless in the glass, but with considerable supporting structure, the 2015 captures all the sexiness of the year. The interplay between the radiance of the vintage and the more energetic, vibrant qualities that are typical of this site is compelling. Hard candy, rose petal, orange zest, mint and spice infuse the creamy, resonant finish." VINOUS

Helles Granatrot mit kupferfarbenem Rand. Feines Geruchs-Kino nach roten Früchten und Sanddorn. Dazu Walderde gepaart mit einem Hauch Tabak und Bittermandel. Im Glas dann noch junge, anfangs laute Tannine, mit einiger Luft dann sanftere Töne und ein druckvolles, nachhaltiges Finale. Ein eleganter, aristokratischer Wein, der nicht nur beim ersten Glas einen bleibenden Eindruck hinterlässt. SUPERIORE.DE

"Tasted blind. Maturing mid ruby with narrow bricky rim. Cloves, cinnamon bark and cherry palate with lots of coating tannins. Great balance, length and concentration. Hedonistic but needs more time." Jancis Robinson

"The 2015 Barbaresco Cottá comes across as a bit heavy, which is something that can happen in warmer vintages, where the natural heft of this site is amplified. There is no shortage of intensity and power, but the Cottà feels blowsy today. On the more positive side, the 2015 does offer a good bit of freshness. It will be interesting to see where things ultimately shake out here." VINOUS

"Very attractive red-cherry, redcurrant, plum and floral nose with discreet oak, then a sleek yet powerful and tannic palate with a lot of structure and some real elegance. Enough fruit for immediate drinking, but this is made for aging." James Suckling

"From a celebrated cru in Neive, the 2015 Barbaresco Cottá is a shapely, soft and accessible interpretation of Nebbiolo from a warm vintage. This mid-weight wine boasts a bright bouquet with ruby highlights. Those aromas are alert, tonic and straightforward in delivery. In terms of mouthfeel, this wine is firm and structured. However, the astringency is safely within bounds (for a young Nebbiolo). Some 10,000 bottles were made. Only 10% of the wine goes into new oak and the rest goes into neutral barrique." Robert Parker

"Cherry, strawberry, chicory and woodsy notes mark this solidly structured, tightly wound Barbaresco. The sweet fruit offsets the dense tannins for balance, and this stays long and vibrant." Wine Spectator

Helles Granatrot mit kupferfarbenem Rand. Hier kommt der opulenteste und freundlichste Barbaresco der insgesamt höchst beeindruckenden Riege der Einzellagen Sottimanos. Verschwenderischer Duft nach schwarzen Früchten, Orangenschale, abgerundet mit einer feinen Nuss-Note. Feinkörniges Tannin schon in jungen Jahren ummantelt die feste Struktur und verstärkt den gut erkennbaren höchst eigenständigen Charakter - und das ist erst der Anfang: Mit den Jahren der Reife wird Pajoré auch den letzten Zweifler von seiner monumentalen Ausstrahlung überzeugt und in seinen Bann gezogen haben! SUPERIORE.DE

"Intensives Rubingranat mit leuchtendem Kern. Elegante Nase nach Rosenblättern, Zwetschken und etwas Rumtopf, im Nachhall nach Brombeeren. Zupackend und salzig am Gaumen, ausgewogen und harmonisch vom Ansatz bis zum Ende, vor allem im mittleren Bereich sehr kräftig, endet lange und fruchtig." Falstaff

"Tasted blind. Dark ruby with narrow bricky rim. Ripe, dark cherry that is a little ethereal but certainly complex. Full, ripe-fruit palate that is not yet as complex as the nose has it, but certainly generous and mouth-filling. Long and tactile finish with bags of grainy tannins matching the rich fruit." Jancis Robinson

"Sleek and linear, with cherry, strawberry, menthol and chalky, stony flavors fused to the muscular tannins. Finishes lean and dry, with a kernel of sweet fruit bound up in the structure. This seems to have already shut down, so forget about it for five years." Wine Spectator

"Intense aroma of cloves, but also rose and earth notes. This rather sophisticated, medium-to full-bodied Barbaresco has bold, dry tannins that are well integrated and a long, dry finish." James Suckling

"Of these various single-vintage releases by Sottimano (including Basarin, Cottá and Fausoni), the 2015 Barbaresco Pajorè is very well integrated and smooth. The tannin management shows an excellent approach, and you don't get the astringency that comes forward in the Basarin. Instead, this expression offers increased focus on the ripe, round and plump fruit of the vintage. Only 5,000 bottles (including magnums) were produced." Robert Parker

"The 2015 Barbaresco Pajoré is the most potent and brooding of the 2015s. The heft, weight and structure of Pajoré comes through in the 2015, but the flavor profile is similar to that of the other wines. Racy, silky and generous, the 2015 is very much the product of a warm, sunny growing season. The Pajoré will need at least a few years to shed some tannin, but it is very showy, even at this early stage." VINOUS

Helles Granatrot mit kupferfarbenem Rand. Feines Geruchs-Kino nach roten Früchten und Sanddorn. Dazu Walderde gepaart mit einem Hauch Tabak und Bittermandel. Im Glas dann noch junge, anfangs laute Tannine, mit einiger Luft dann sanftere Töne und ein druckvolles, nachhaltiges Finale. Ein eleganter, aristokratischer Wein, der nicht nur beim ersten Glas einen bleibenden Eindruck hinterlässt. SUPERIORE.DE

"Überaus facettenreiche Noten von Steinobst, Veilchen und balsamischen Komponenten; am Gaumen robuste Tannine, jugendlich, aber auch voller Charakter, endet auf Nuancen von Maraschino-Kirschen und Gewürzen. Hervorragend gearbeiteter zeitlos-eleganter Stil." Vinum

"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" Jancis Robinson

"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." Wine Spectator

"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." VINOUS

"This is the trademark wine of this estate for its elegance, power and finesse. With an extra gear in terms of intensity, right off the bat the 2016 Barbaresco Cottá brings fullness and generosity. There are wonderful notes of mint and licorice to it, a streamlined wine with a great deal of purity. It's got a lot of volume and even more dimension. There is also that pretty salty mineral note on the close." Robert Parker

Helles Granatrot mit kupferfarbenem Rand. Hier kommt der opulenteste und freundlichste Barbaresco der insgesamt höchst beeindruckenden Riege der Einzellagen Sottimanos. Verschwenderischer Duft nach schwarzen Früchten, Orangenschale, abgerundet mit einer feinen Nuss-Note. Feinkörniges Tannin schon in jungen Jahren ummantelt die feste Struktur und verstärkt den gut erkennbaren höchst eigenständigen Charakter - und das ist erst der Anfang: Mit den Jahren der Reife wird Pajoré auch den letzten Zweifler von seiner monumentalen Ausstrahlung überzeugt und in seinen Bann gezogen haben! SUPERIORE.DE

"Exquisite Machart, bereits der erste Eindruck mit seiner würzigen Waldbeernase und den Ledernoten nimmt für sich ein; am Gaumen kompakt, die Gerbstoffe robust, ausgewogen, feinherbes Fruchtfinale. Ein eleganter Barbaresco wie aus dem Bilderbuch." Vinum

"Dark ruby. Subdued and closed on the nose. Sweet fruit that is still very reluctant to come out on the palate and bags of coating tannins. Built like a stone house and monolithic for the moment." Jancis Robinson

"Warm notes of licorice and leather embrace cherry and plum flavors in this spicy red. Tobacco and earth accents add depth as this plays out on the firm finish. Rich and broad, showing density and grip." Wine Spectator

"Sottimano has five vineyard sites, and the Pajorè site near Treiso has the poorest soils of them all. These wines are more elegant and ready as as result. The 2016 Barbaresco Pajoré sees 40-plus days of maceration and one month of submerged cap in oak (the same goes for all of their Barbarescos), and this can be done only when the skins are perfectly healthy. Remember that this is organic farming we're talking about. The skins are still crunchy. Here you'll find a spicy, elegant and sweet Nebbiolo that is fine and yet really covers the mouth well. I picked up some exotic flower notes that are hard to pinpoint, and once again, the nice saline mouthfeel is impressive." Robert Parker

"The 2016 Barbaresco Pajorè is a super-classic, explosive wine endowed with tremendous depth and character. Hauntingly beautiful aromatics laced with spice, menthol and blood orange make a strong opening statement. The Pajorè has traditionally been a big wine here. Although there is plenty of breadth and texture, the 2016 remains light on its feet. Lavender, mint, licorice and blue/purplish berry fruit are wonderfully alive in the glass. The 2016 is very young and yet also so easy to appreciate in the early going. That is often a sign of a truly great wine. Don't miss it." VINOUS

Transluzentes Purpur mit einem frischen, granatroten Rand. Das Bouquet ist ein Potpourri aus getrockneten Früchten, Zartbitter-Schokolade und zarter Nougat-Note. Eröffnet am Gaumen fruchtig-samtig und wird mit seiner Geradlinigkeit samt herrlich eingebundener Säure noch viele Jahre Freude machen. SUPERIORE.DE

"Duftet betörend nach roten Beeren, Trüffeln und Blüten; eleganter Ansatz, die Gerbstoffe jugendlich und doch feinkörnig, vereint Charakter, Frische, große Länge. Kurz: toller Barbaresco, der noch reifen kann." Vinum

"Mid ruby. Serious, savoury nose that is still a little closed. Brooding and still a little compact and firm on the palate, but with a succulent, tightly knit finish with persistent, sandpapery tannins. Very youthful and solidly built." Jancis Robinson

"Plum and cherry fruit is accented by licorice, leather and tar notes in this tightly wound red. The tannins are on the severe side today, yet this finds equilibrium in the end." Wine Spectator

"The 2016 Barbaresco Fausoni is another superb wine in this lineup of 2016 Barbarescos from the Sottimano family. Bright floral and citrus overtones give the 2016 a vibrant, chiseled feel. Sweet red/purplish berry fruit, blood orange, spice, menthol rose petal and lavender are some of the many notes that flesh out in this super-expressive, mid-weight Barbaresco from Sottimano. Aromatically lifted, dense on the palate and also very structured, the 2016 is a very complete Fausoni. The 2016 finishes with tremendous persistence and a classic sense of austerity that is compelling." VINOUS

"The Fausoni zone provides sandy and clay soils, and you get more power here than from the other locations. These vines are 35 to 40 years old, and the 2016 Barbaresco Fausoni lets fly those menthol notes that are so characteristic of this vineyard in Neive. Slightly more balsamic in its aromatic profile than the other Barbarescos, this expression of Nebbiolo, sitting sur lies for two years, shows a very different tannic feel in a wine that offers surprising freshness and purity. Those minty Neive notes, its direct and linear nature, plus the very precise and sharply managed tannins make this cru a winner in my book." Robert Parker

Granatrot mit zarten violetten Reflexen. Currá 2013 zeigt sich anfangs archaisch und unnahbar. Mit Zeit und Sauerstoff offenbart er dunkle Beeren und eine feine Schokoladen-Note. In seiner Stilistik ist er eher kantig, verleugnet aber an keiner Stelle seine Größe und Harmonie. Tabak, Zwetschgen, Rauch und Tabak: Mit jedem Glas offenbart dieser Ausnahme-Wein neue Facetten und ein Feuerwerk der Eindrücke. So geht Nebbiolo von 65 Jahre alten Reben auf höchstem Niveau! SUPERIORE.DE

"A fresh, cherry-, mineral- and tar-flavored red whose great structure provides support. Elements of underbrush and earth come into play on the lingering finish." Wine Spectator

"The 2013 Barbaresco Currá offers a savory side that is seamlessly juxtaposed against a plump fruity side. Those two halves paint a pretty picture of this unusual and slightly cooler vintage. The wine shows power and a great sense of forward thrust or momentum that will serve it well as it ages in your cellar. The 1.5-hectare vineyard is planted to 65-year-old vines in the Neive subzone." Robert Parker

"A rich, explosive wine, the 2013 Barbaresco Currà possesses remarkable depth, intensity and power. Dark cherry, smoke, leather, spice and savory herb nuances saturate the palate in an explosive, full-throttle Barbaresco. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2013 is going to need at least several years in bottle to fully come around. A final blast of exotic, perfumed aromatics makes it very hard to move onto the next wine." VINOUS