Le Sommelier Inc.

Alcohol:  14%

Total Production: 1,700 cases

Produced from the historical and prestigious Basarin vineyard, in the area of Neive.  The 4 ha vineyard borders between the two zones of Neive and Treiso, where the high altitude gives the wines a particular note of spices, with a hint of licorice, as well great complexity, and a considerable structure. The vines are young, about 14-15 years old, and for this reason the grapes cannot yet express the richness of polyphenols or all the aromas or the “nuances” that an important cru like this could have. It is for this reason that Sottimano has decided to declassify this wine from Barbaresco DOCG to Langhe Nebbiolo DOC.

The fermentation and the maceration of the skins normally takes about 12 days. No selected yeasts are used or added.  The malolactical fermentation is completed in French barrels, where the wine remains for approximately 10 months. 25% of the barrels used for aging this wine are new, the remaining 75% have previously been used for up to 4 times.  There is no filtering and no fining prior to bottling.

This wine was sourced exclusively from vines 15-20 years of age in the Basarìn vineyard, making it essentially a declassified, single vineyard Barbaresco. Sottimano chooses to do this because the winery does not want to “taint” the reputations of their four single vineyard Barbaresci, which are all made from old vines, ranging from 50-70 years. 

Tasting notes: A deep brilliant red, an intense, persistent nose of fruits and spices, with some hints of dried rose, cherry and tobacco. On the palate it shows a good, firm body and very refined tannins, with notes of violet, mint and vibrant fruit.