Pajoré Barbaresco DOCG 2023

Wine description for Pajoré Barbaresco DOCG 2023 by Sottimano

Colour & appearance

Pale, transparent ruby red with a fine sheen.

Nose

Finely delineated yet powerful at once: red fruit, transparent and shimmering, overlaid by a spiciness reminiscent of sandalwood. Alongside mild spices such as white pepper, allspice and vadouvan. Floral notes of hollyhock and violet, with a touch of mint and liquorice completing the picture. Delicate, yet persistent.

Palate

The attack is transparent and finely structured, but then the wine reveals its powerful side. The dark fruit is framed by an austere edge of fine-grained tannins that evoke tobacco and leather. Dense and firm, with considerable punch on the palate – noble understatement.

Finish

Fruit-driven and austere, with a long finish and an emphatic presence.

Terroir & origin

The vineyard site Pajoré is located in Treiso, one of the two communes across which the Sottimano vineyards are spread. South-westerly exposure, soils of calcareous marl and clay, at an altitude of around 400 metres. The old vines consistently deliver low yields of concentrated, small bunches. Among the estate’s five crus, Pajoré is regarded as the one with Burgundian elegance and rigorous balance.

Grape variety & vinification

Nebbiolo, selectively hand-harvested. Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, followed by maceration on the skins, partly using a submerged cap. Maturation takes place for approximately 20 to 24 months in wood, including a small proportion of new wood. Malolactic fermentation occurs in cask, and the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Food recommendations

A wine for braised veal dishes, game with mushrooms or truffle pasta. Also an excellent choice with hard, mature cheese.

Special features

Andrea Sottimano leaves his Nebbiolo on the skins for up to sixty days – long after others would have pressed off. This patience defines Pajoré: a wine that takes its time and gives it back to the drinker.