Pajoré Barbaresco DOCG 2023

Wine Description for Pajoré Barbaresco DOCG 2023 by Sottimano

Character

The Pajoré is one of the most expressive single-vineyard wines from the Sottimano house – a Barbaresco that expresses the quiet grandeur of Nebbiolo with unmistakable precision. Not a wine that seeks to impress through loudness, but one that convinces through depth, transparency and sense of place. The 2023 vintage is still at the beginning of its development, yet the genetic predisposition towards elegance is already distinctly perceptible.

Terroir & Origin

The vineyard site Pajoré lies in the heart of Neive, one of the three core communes of the Barbaresco region. The calcareous tuff and clay soils on the characteristic Langhe hills lend the wine a mineral tension and structural rigour that distinguishes Neive from the softer soils of Barbaresco and Trezzo. Piedmont, with its continental climate – hot summers, cool autumn nights – creates the conditions for the slow, aromatic ripening that Nebbiolo requires to unfold its full complexity.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Nebbiolo is one of Italy’s most demanding and rewarding grape varieties – thin-skinned, tannic-rich, with high acidity and an ageing potential that is unparalleled. Sottimano, a family-run estate in Neive, has worked for decades with quiet consistency and artisanal responsibility. The maturation takes place traditionally in large wooden casks (botti), which allows the wine to preserve its sense of origin without being overwhelmed by oak aromas. The 2023 vintage is considered warm and early in Piedmont, with good ripeness – a year that promises accessible structure without compromising cellaring potential.

Food Pairing Suggestions

A wine of this origin and structure demands to be at table. Classic Piedmontese cuisine comes naturally to mind: Brasato al Barolo, Tajarin with white truffle or a mature piece of beef fillet. Equally harmonious: braised lamb shoulder, wild ragù or a robust hard cheese such as Castelmagno. The wine needs time in the glass – and ideally a long evening.