Cottá, Barbaresco DOCG 2020

Wine Description for Cottá Barbaresco DOCG 2020 by Sottimano

Colour & Appearance

Transparently glowing ruby red in the glass – the typical elegance of Nebbiolo, hinting at depth.

Nose

Here reveals itself a closed, still youthful wine that demands patience. With generous aeration, layers of black cherries and sour cherries unfold, accompanied by bitter almond, rosehip and pomegranate. Darker notes of sloe and plum mingle with black tobacco, damp earth, autumn leaves and a hint of mocha. A slightly reductive note and iodine minerality underscore the character of this terroir wine.

Palate

On the palate it is unmistakable: this is a long-distance runner. A firm, ripe tannin structure meets lively, clear acidity – the backbone for decades of development. Dark berries, cherries and sea buckthorn are accompanied by saline notes and aromas of forest and undergrowth. The wine possesses an impressive presence and concentration at 14.5% alcohol, yet never feels heavy.

Finish

Long and structured, with persistent fruit and a fine tannin grip that invites the next sip – or better yet: cellaring for a decade.

Terroir & Origin

The Cottá vineyard site in Neive ranks among the great Barbaresco crus. Sottimano has farmed this parcel organically since the 1970s – a pioneering achievement in Piedmont. The extremely low yield of just 15 hl/ha guarantees maximum concentration.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Nebbiolo, destemmed and fermented on the skins for up to 60 days – an extraordinarily long maceration period that gives the wine its structure. Fermentation took place in open stainless steel vats with regular punch-downs of the cap. Since 2020, Sottimano has employed large, conical botti for 24 months of ageing – a traditional approach that grants the wine complexity without oak dominance.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Ossobuco milanese, rabbit roulade with sage and peperoncino, braised beef roulade or brown lentils with pumpkin and polenta gnocchi for a vegetarian option. The wine demands intense, earthy flavours.

Special Characteristics

The Cottá is the most closed of Sottimano’s five Barbarescos and requires considerably more time than, for instance, the more accessible Basarin. A wine for the patient and collectors – drink it from 2028 onwards or later.