Cottá, Barbaresco DOCG 2020

Wine Description for Cottá Barbaresco DOCG 2020 by Sottimano

Colour & Appearance

Transparent, clear ruby red – a first hint of the elegance and finesse that this Barbaresco aspires to, without boasting of opulence.

Nose

The Cottá shows itself still young and closed – quite in character with this vineyard site, which always demands more patience than its siblings. With sufficient aeration it opens slowly: black and sour cherries, bitter almond, rosehip and pomegranate, a hint of sloe and plum. Beneath lie deeper layers of black tobacco, damp earth, leaf litter, mocha and an iodine-mineral accent. A slight reduction reveals that this wine still needs time – and deserves it.

Palate

On the palate, the Cottá confirms its character as a long-distance runner. The tannin structure is firm, ripe and present – not a gram too much, not a gram too little. Combined with a lively, clear acidity that keeps the wine taut. Aromatically, dark berries, cherries and sea buckthorn emerge, a hint of salt and an earthy, spicy undertone of forest and undergrowth.

Finish

Long, dry and tannic – with lingering minerality and a slightly austere, characterful aftertaste. Those who drink today get an honest impression. Those who wait will be rewarded.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes come from the vineyard site Cottá in the municipality of Neive, one of the most prestigious Barbaresco villages. Sottimano has farmed this parcel organically since the 1970s – with a yield of just 15 hl/ha, which provides extraordinary concentration and complexity.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Nebbiolo. The grapes were destemmed and fermented on the skins for up to 60 days, with regular punching down of the cap in open stainless steel fermentation vessels. Since the 2020 vintage, the wine matures in large, slightly conical botti – for around 24 months. A classical, uncompromisingly artisanal approach.

Food Pairing Suggestions

A wine for the grand table: Ossobuco milanese all’autunno is the classic Piedmontese answer. Equally convincing: rabbit roulade with sage and peperoncino. For those who prefer vegetarian fare, brown lentils with pumpkin and polenta gnocchi offer an earthy, spicy partner on equal footing.

Special Features

The Cottá is the introverted thinker among Sottimano’s Barbaresco wines – more complex, more closed, longer-lived. Ideal drinking window: 2027–2040. Those who open it now should decant it generously.