Pairolero, Barbera d’Alba DOC Superiore 2023

Wine Description for Pairolero Barbera d’Alba DOC Superiore 2023 by Sottimano

Colour & Appearance

Deep ruby red with an almost black core – a colour intensity that immediately signals concentrated fruit at work here.

Nose

The Pairolero 2023 presents itself openly and invitingly with an opulent bouquet of fully ripe black cherries, blackberries and mulberries. Violet plums join in, whilst elderberries and the creamy note of freshly brewed espresso provide a spicy counterpoint. Pure fruit abundance without affectation.

Palate

Supremely juicy on the attack – the Pairolero positively floods the mouth with its concentrated cherry fruit. The radiant, ripe acidity of the Barbera grape shows itself in peak form here: energetic, precise, perfectly integrated. Ripe tannins define the wine at the edges of the tongue and lend it remarkable structure despite its medium body. At 15% alcohol, powerful yet never heavy – a balancing act that succeeds.

Finish

Medium length with ruby red shimmer and lingering fruit presence. The acidity carries the fruit through to the end without dominating.

Terroir & Origin

The Sottimano estate lies in the magical triangle between Barbaresco, Neive and Treiso – home to some of Piedmont’s finest vineyard sites. The family manages crus such as Cottà, Currà, Fausoni, Basarin and Pajoré according to biodynamic principles.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, 25 days of maceration, spontaneous malolactic fermentation in French oak. After 15 months of ageing in tonneau, the wine is bottled unfiltered and unfined – purist winemaking that gives the terroir maximum expression.

Food Pairing Suggestions

A wine for Brasato al Barolo, Ossobuco or grilled beef fillet. Also an excellent choice with spicy pasta dishes featuring wild boar ragù or aged Pecorino.

Special Features

Year after year, Andrea Sottimano delivers a high-performance Barbera with the Pairolero that demonstrates what this often underestimated grape variety is capable of – a Superiore that lives up to its name.