Cottá, Barbaresco DOCG 2021

Wine Tasting Description for Cottá Barbaresco DOCG 2021 by Sottimano

Colour & Appearance

Vibrant cherry red with bright highlights and subtle, rust-coloured rim variation.

Nose

A fascinating interplay of red fruit and striking depth. Notes of wild strawberry, rosehip, cranberry and rooibos tea are underpinned by spicy red pepper. Beneath, an ethereal, balsamic profile reveals itself with undergrowth, pine needles, cedarwood and a touch of blond tobacco. With aeration, fresh hazelnuts and a pronounced, chalky minerality come to the fore.

Palate

On the palate, a velvety, warm fruitiness seamlessly merges with remarkable elegance and a cool, taut drive. The tannins are extraordinarily subtly woven, gently coating the mouth and introducing fine, noble bitter notes. Flavours of walnut and hazelnut meld with the distinct mineral texture.

Finish

Long-lasting, taut and marked by impressive freshness. The spicy and nutty nuances linger long after, leaving a cool, mineral impression.

Terroir & Origin

The wine comes from the historic single vineyard Cottà in Neive, the home site of Azienda Agricola Sottimano. The vines, mostly planted in the 1970s, are situated in a location traditionally known for producing the most fruit-forward yet deeply complex wines of the commune. An extremely low yield of around 15 hl/ha ensures immense concentration.

Grape Variety & Winemaking

100% Nebbiolo. Following destemming, the must remains on the skins for up to 60 days, with the cap being manually punched down in open stainless steel fermenters. Maturation takes place for approximately 24 months in large, slightly conical botti. Bottled unfiltered.

Food Pairings

Excellent with herb-crusted roasted saddle of venison served with savoy cabbage, hearty braised oxtail with pearl barley, or vegetarian mushroom ravioli with white tomato foam and toasted hazelnuts.

Key Highlights

Farmed organically and spontaneously fermented for over forty years. Andrea Sottimano’s trademark is radical patience: through the extremely long maceration period and the deliberate avoidance of new oak in favour of large botti, this Barbaresco delivers an unadulterated expression of the Neive terroir.