Pairolero Barbera d’Alba DOC Superiore 2024

Wine description for Pairolero Barbera d’Alba DOC Superiore 2024 by Sottimano

Colour & appearance

Dark ruby red with purple reflections – deep, dense, vibrant.

Nose

Juicy, ripe fruit: sour and black cherry, preserved cherries, alongside wild strawberries, blackberries and black mulberries. Elderflower and ripe plum join in, flanked by subtle roasted notes of espresso, cocoa and toasted nuts. Fine herbal spice and a distinctive floral top note bring tension and vital freshness.

Palate

The cherry inferno of the nose is disciplined on the attack by clear sour cherry – the fruit remains transparent, almost shimmering. A fine thread of acidity that evokes raspberries juggles the richness; the ripe tannins stay discreetly in the background like a prompter. Agile, dancing, playful – with a taut finish.

Finish

Taut and lively, with a cherry-like echo and a long, fresh finale.

Terroir & origin

Azienda Agricola Sottimano is located in the Cottà vineyard site in Neive, in the heart of the Barbaresco region. Rino Sottimano acquired the estate at the end of the 1960s and planted most of the vineyards himself in the 70s and 80s – many vines are now fifty to sixty years old. The estate is run by Andrea, Elena and Claudia Sottimano.

Grape variety & vinification

Pure Barbera, spontaneously fermented with indigenous yeasts, around 25 days of maceration. Malolactic fermentation takes place spontaneously in French oak; 15 months of ageing in tonneaux, bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Food recommendations

A wine for Piedmontese cuisine: Tajarin al ragù, Agnolotti del plin, braised beef shoulder or pizza generously topped with salsiccia. Also a safe bet with Gorgonzola and robust hard cheeses.

Special features

While the Barbera of many colleagues comes across as a cheerful everyday wine, the Pairolero reveals the signature of an estate that has elevated patience to a virtue: Sottimano leaves its wines on the skins for a long time and trusts in spontaneous fermentation and old vines. The result is a Barbera of unusual depth, which reins in its exuberant fruit with astonishing discipline.