Sottimano winery
The man in charge of the estate is Andrea Sottimano, who recently took over from his father Rino, who founded the estate. The family owns parcels in five crus and produces four distinctive Barbarescos, each vinified identically and aged in French barriques. As with crus in Burgundy, tasting is the best way to understand the nuances of each of these extraordinary terroirs. Fausoni is always the most floral, elegant, as well as being the most accessible in youth. Curr and Cott , which surround the family residence and winemaking facility, are wines of great density and structure, wines built for the long haul. Pajor combines the best of both, showing power yet with great finesse. The vineyard of the cru Basarin, which was purchased in 2002, is principally younger vines whose grapes are destined for the family s Langhe Nebbiolo. As with tradition in Piedmont, Sottimano also makes a Dolcetto and a Barbera d Alba. The portfolio finishes with a tasty curiosity as Andrea decided to make a Brachetto, which is vinified dry, called Mat . The approach here is one of minimal intervention: indigenous yeasts, no fining, or filtering. No insecticides are used and only organic fertilizers are used, and only minimally. Each of their four cru Barbarescos is given the same treatment to allow the uniqueness of each cru to express itself. Fermentation is done in oak, of which about 30% is new, followed by 18-20 months in neutral barriques.