Basarin Barbaresco DOCG 2023

Wine description for Basarin Barbaresco DOCG 2023 by Sottimano

Character

The Basarin is one of the great single-vineyard Barbarescos from Sottimano – a wine that embodies the typical tension between structural rigour and inner warmth that makes Barbaresco so distinctive. Not a wine for the impatient, but rather one that demands time and rewards it in equal measure.

Terroir & Origin

The Basarin vineyard site is located in Neive, on the border with Treiso, in one of the four communes of the Barbaresco zone in Piedmont. The characteristic Tortonian soils, composed of light tuffaceous limestone and marl, lend the wine a fine mineral signature and aromatic precision. Sottimano’s parcel covers three hectares facing southwest on white calcareous soil, with vines aged between 45 and 70 years. Both Vinous and the Wine Advocate awarded the 2023 vintage 94 points.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Nebbiolo is one of Italy’s most demanding yet rewarding grape varieties – thin-skinned, highly tannic, high in acidity and of extraordinary aromatic complexity. Sottimano, run by Rino Sottimano and his children, pursues an artisanal, precise style focused on vineyard expression. The ageing follows tradition, without overwhelming the fruit – the aim is always transparency of terroir. The 2023 vintage in Piedmont was marked by warmth, promising ripe tannins and generous body without sacrificing the variety’s characteristic acid structure.

Food Pairings

A wine of such depth calls for dishes with substance and character: Tajarin al ragù di carne, Brasato al Barolo or slowly braised beef cheek are classic companions. Equally recommended are game dishes such as roe deer leg or hare stew, as well as mature hard cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano or Castelmagno – foods that tame Nebbiolo’s tannins and allow its profound depth to shine.