VN (95)
The 2019 Barbaresco Cottá shows all the richness and weight this site is capable of. Dark red fruit, rose petal, lavender, blood orange and cedar open nicely in the glass, but ultimately it is the wine's huge mid-palate and fine balance that impress most. The 2019 is a tremendous Cottá. It is also one of the more finessed wines at Sottimano this year. There's plenty of size, but exceptional balance, too.
- By Antonio Galloni on September 2022
My tasting at Sottimano was one of the highlights of the time I spent in Barbaresco this year. The 2019s are terrific, especially considering the challenges of a year with heavy rains. Organic and sustainable farming practices are generally positive, but they also restrict options for combating disease in the vineyards. In 2019, Sottimano lost as much as 50% of the crop in some parcels. The wines, though, are quite good, even if they show the nervy side of the year. And then there are the majestic 2020s. I have been visiting Sottimano for more than twenty years. The 2020s are the best wines I have tasted here, without question. They offer more depth, energy and overall dimension than the 2019s. Stylistically, things have evolved a bit in recent times. Today, the Barbarescos see as much as 60 days on the skins, with submerged cap maceration. Aging is about 18 months, all in cask. Readers who have not tasted these wines in some time owe it to themselves to do it, as they are magnificent. Bravo!
