SOTTIMANO
Barbaresco Fausoni
- 2018
- Italy (Piedmont)
The Sottimano family estate is the most Burgundian of Piedmont's producers: small vineyard (18 ha) made up of parcels scattered over the Barbaresco appellation, vines aged between 25 and 60 years, natural fermentation using indigenous yeasts, maturing for one year on lees for malolactic fermentation, no use of sulphur until the final bottling without filtering or fining. All Sottimano wines are distinguished by fine, fresh fruit and soft tannins.
The plot-based cuvées (1.5 ha maximum) express the diversity of terroirs and exposures like the Burgundian "climats":
- Pajoré, with its limestone subsoil, is structured by beautifully velvety tannins;
- Fausoni has finesse and elegance;
- Currà, the only south-facing terroir, is richer, riper and has a longer ageing potential.
The 2018 vintage in the press :
Vinous (A. Galloni - September 2021): 94/100 "The 2018 Barbaresco Fausoni is another super-classic wine in this range of Sottimano. Floral, spice and orange peel accents lend brightness to this ethereal, super-expressive Barbaresco. The 2018 will need a few years in bottle to soften, but it is quite pretty. This classically austere Barbaresco will appeal most to readers with traditionally leaning palates."
- To keep or to drink :
- Ready to drink
- Apogée :
- 2025-2035
From the same producer
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The Sottimano family estate is the most Burgundian of Piedmont's producers: small vineyard (18 ha) made up of parcels scattered over the Barbaresco appellation, vines aged between 25 and 60 years, natural fermentation using indigenous yeasts, maturing for one year on lees for malolactic fermentation, no use of sulphur until the final bottling without filtering or fining. All Sottimano wines are distinguished by fine, fresh fruit and soft tannins.
Nice entry into the range with the Langhe (rated 90/100 in 2020 by Galloni) gathering the young vines (15 years old) of their different vineyards.
The 2023 vintage in the presse :
Vinous (A. Galloni - October 2025) : 93/100 "The 2023 Langhe Niebolo, all young vines from Basarin, is terrific. Pliant and expressive, the 2023 is superb choice for readers looking for a wine that overdelivers. Macerated cherry, plum, lavender and blood orange open first. Exotic floral and spice overtones develop with a bit of time in the glass. More than anything else, I am so impressed with the wine's textural depth and balance. The 2023 was done a modified, light style of submerged cap maceration for about a week that worked wonders. Élevage was nine months in cask. And the young vines are now already 30 years old."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 1 to 2 years
- Apogée:
- 2026-2033
-
The Sottimano family estate is the most Burgundian of Piedmont's producers: small vineyard (18 ha) made up of parcels scattered over the Barbaresco appellation, vines aged between 25 and 60 years, natural fermentation using indigenous yeasts, maturing for one year on lees for malolactic fermentation, no use of sulphur until the final bottling without filtering or fining. All Sottimano wines are distinguished by fine, fresh fruit and soft tannins.
The plot-based cuvées (1.5 ha maximum) express the diversity of terroirs and exposures like the Burgundian "climats":
- Pajoré, with its limestone subsoil, is structured by beautifully velvety tannins;
- Fausoni has finesse and elegance;
- Currà, the only south-facing terroir, is richer, riper and has a longer ageing potential.The 2020 vintage in the press :
Vinous (A. Galloni - September 2022): 97+/100 “The 2020 Barbaresco Pajorè is a textbook wine from this site. A wine of depth and stature, the Pajorè is so impressive, even just bottled. Dark cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol race across the palate as the 2020 shows off its obvious pedigree. Time in the glass brings out a whole range of spice, balsamic-infused nuances that build into the palate-straining finish. The 2020 is shaping up to be truly magnificient.”
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 1 to 2 years
- Apogée:
- 2025-2035
-
The Sottimano family estate is the most Burgundian of Piedmont's producers: small vineyard (18 ha) made up of parcels scattered over the Barbaresco appellation, vines aged between 25 and 60 years, natural fermentation using indigenous yeasts, maturing for one year on lees for malolactic fermentation, no use of sulphur until the final bottling without filtering or fining. All Sottimano wines are distinguished by fine, fresh fruit and soft tannins.
The plot-based cuvées (1.5 ha maximum) express the diversity of terroirs and exposures like the Burgundian "climats":
- Pajoré, with its limestone subsoil, is structured by beautifully velvety tannins;
- Fausoni has finesse and elegance;
- Currà, the only south-facing terroir, is richer, riper and has a longer ageing potential.The 2018 vintage in the press :
Vinous (A. Galloni - September 2021): 95/100 "The 2018 Barbaresco Pajorè is quite closed. It shows all the translucent elegance of all the wines in the range. Spice, mineral, melted road tar, rose petal, leather and lavender bring out the darker, more balsamic inflections of Nebbiolo. This potent, structured Barbaresco is quite backward today. Readers need to be especially patient."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2025-2035
-
The Sottimano family estate is the most Burgundian of Piedmont's producers: small vineyard (18 ha) made up of parcels scattered over the Barbaresco appellation, vines aged between 25 and 60 years, natural fermentation using indigenous yeasts, maturing for one year on lees for malolactic fermentation, no use of sulphur until the final bottling without filtering or fining. All Sottimano wines are distinguished by fine, fresh fruit and soft tannins.
The plot-based cuvées (1.5 ha maximum) express the diversity of terroirs and exposures like the Burgundian "climats":
- Pajoré, with its limestone subsoil, is structured by beautifully velvety tannins;
- Fausoni has finesse and elegance;
- Currà, the only south-facing terroir, is richer, riper and has a longer ageing potential.The 2020 vintage in the press :
Vinous (A. Galloni - October 2023): 97/100 "The 2020 Barbaresco Fausoni is one of the most captivating wines I have ever tasted here. Bright, focused and vertical in bearing, the 2020 possesses tremendous intensity in all of its dimensions. Macerated red cherry, mint, white pepper, tobacco and cedar add lift and energy throughout. Moreover, the typically incisive Fausoni tannins are beautifully integrated."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 1 to 2 years
- Apogée:
- 2025-2035
-
The Sottimano family estate is the most Burgundian of Piedmont's producers: small vineyard (18 ha) made up of parcels scattered over the Barbaresco appellation, vines aged between 25 and 60 years, natural fermentation using indigenous yeasts, maturing for one year on lees for malolactic fermentation, no use of sulphur until the final bottling without filtering or fining. All Sottimano wines are distinguished by fine, fresh fruit and soft tannins.
The plot-based cuvées (1.5 ha maximum) express the diversity of terroirs and exposures like the Burgundian "climats":
- Pajoré, with its limestone subsoil, is structured by beautifully velvety tannins;
- Fausoni has finesse and elegance;
- Currà, the only south-facing terroir, is richer, riper and has a longer ageing potential. His 2016 was rated 95+/100 by Galloni "Currà captures all the magic and mystery that are the essential qualities of a first-rate Nebbiolo. I loved it."More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2025-2035
-
Riserva is a selection of the oldest vines in Currá, produced only in the greatest vintages. A dream Barbaresco, with perfectly polished tannins.
The 2016 vintage in the presse :
Vinous (A. Galloni - October 2025) : 96/100 "The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva is all old-vine Currà. A dark, potent wine, the 2016 is super-impressive. At nearly ten years of age, it is still a very young wine. Dark-toned fruit, new leather, spice, menthol and espresso are all beautifully amplified in this ample, large-scaled Barbaresco. This is an especially dense style. As good as the 2016 Riserva is, I think the wines being made today are even better and more precise."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 1 to 2 years
- Apogée:
- 2026-2046