2019 Sottimano Barbaresco - Fausoni

Andrea Sottimano and his family organically farm vineyards in five distinct crus in the Neive and Treiso communes of Barbaresco. Their elegant, delineated, and deeply satisfying wines have anchored PMW’s Barbaresco shelf for several decades now. The Fausoni cru’s soils are a classic Barbaresco mix of limestone, sand, and clay. Nebbiolo from this cru typically combines power and grace, perhaps leaning slightly towards the former. The Sottimano’s Fausoni vines were planted around 1980. After harvest, spontaneous fermentation with long maceration (about 40 days) was in barrels, followed by two years of élevage in a mix of small and larger barrels, 10% of which were new. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. It shows red fruits, white pepper, and minerality, with balsamic and menthol notes. This is sleek and structured Barbaresco - though no longer a baby, it’s still youthful and deserving of a couple of hours in a decanter. Drink it in a Burgundy or other large wine glass with brai