Fausoni, Barbaresco DOCG 2018

The Azienda Agricola Sottimano was bought in the 60s by Rino Sottimano and is located in the middle of the Cottà site. In the following years, it was successively extended by the Currá, Fausoni, Basarin and Pajoré crus. Today the winery is run by son Andrea and his sisters Elena and Claudia. Situated in the triangle of Barbaresco, Neive, and Treiso, Sottimano has been working according to biodynamic guidelines for years in order to bottle the character of the five crus as precisely as possible.

The Cru Fausoni is located just outside of Neive and produces exceptional wines with a good balance of elegance, fragrant aromatics and deep concentration. The site with only 1.5 hectares is Sottimano's smallest cru with the youngest vineyards with about 45-year-old vines in south-west orientation.

The fermentation is always spontaneous with their own yeasts, the maceration is usually 25 days and the BSA is also spontaneous in French oak. The wines mature for 24 months in the barrel, 12 months of which on the yeast. The use of wood in winemaking has been modernized with the 2014 vintage, making the wines appear more approachable with immense vibration and depth even in their youth. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Ruby red with bright reflections, radiant and clear.

The nose of the 2018 Fausoni from Azienda Agricola Sottimano oscillates between ripe red fruit and spicy balsamic notes heart cherries and pickled wild cherries, fresh raspberry juice, currants and dried flowers. Sandalwood, cloves, allspice and some incense provide spicy regalia and remind of a Maghrebian bazaar, dried tomatoes, sage and balsamic vinegar make the wheel go round.

On the palate, it is significantly controlled by its powerful tannin corset, which contours it formidably. Despite the light vintage, it is firm and gripping on the palate with dark-fruited depth, complexity and athletic stature of aristocratic nature. The tannins are tight and dense, giving it an animatingly tart astringency, underpinned by hedonistic fruit with subtle extract. Concentrated tension with delicately salty minerality and grippy feel on a fruity tart finish with a long finish. Long distance runner.