Cottá Barbaresco DOCG 2023

Wine Description for Cottá Barbaresco DOCG 2023 by Sottimano

Character

The Cottá Barbaresco DOCG 2023 by Sottimano is a wine that embodies the quiet greatness of Piedmont – not a loud wine, but a contemplative one that rewards patience. Hailing from the single vineyard site Cottá in Neive, it ranks among the most characterful expressions of the house: precise, profound, and marked by that unmistakable tension that distinguishes great Nebbiolo from the merely good.

Terroir & Origin

The vineyard site Cottá lies within the municipality of Neive, one of the three classic Barbaresco villages, and is distinguished by limestone-rich Tortonian soils – those characteristic blue-grey marls that impart a particular mineral depth and structural rigour to Nebbiolo. The Langhe climate with its continental influences, cool nights and long autumns creates ideal conditions for slow, aromatically nuanced ripening. The vintage 2023, marked by warmth and dryness, demanded artisanal finesse to preserve freshness and complexity.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Nebbiolo is one of the world’s most demanding grape varieties – thin-skinned, tannic-rich, late-ripening and possessed of an almost aristocratic sensitivity to soil and vintage. The Sottimano family has worked for decades with a consistently site-focused approach that understands each cru as an independent voice. Vinification follows traditional principles: gentle extraction, ageing in large wooden casks (Botti) that allow the wine to breathe without overworking it. The result is a Barbaresco that places provenance above manner.

Food Pairing Suggestions

A wine of this depth calls for dishes with substance and elegance. Classic and unbeatable: Brasato al Barolo, Tajarin with white truffle or a mature Castelmagno cheese. Equally harmonious: wild boar ragù, hare ragù or a simple yet high-quality bistecca from Piedmontese cattle. The wine benefits from adequate decanting time – at least an hour, preferably two.