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2018 Sottimano Barbaresco Fausoni

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

January 15, 2023 - $41

Estimate

RATINGS

95Wine Enthusiast

Focused and loaded with finesse, this radiant red opens with enticing scents of rose petal, red berry, violet and camphor. The linear palate boasts a great depth of flavor and extreme elegance, featuring juicy cherry, strawberry compote, licorice and cinnamon framed against taut, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps gives it precision and superb balance while a hint of espresso lingers on the finish.

94The Wine Advocate

...polished and glossy, showing enormous purity to all the senses...graceful nature of its cassis, dried raspberry and plum-like aromas.

94Vinous / IWC

Floral, spice and orange peel accents lend brightness to this ethereal, super-expressive Barbaresco.

92Wine Spectator

Plum, cherry, eucalyptus, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors combine in this fluid yet firmly structured red, which is intense, lingering with a long aftertaste that echoes the savory elements.

92Jeb Dunnuck

...flush with ripe peach, rose petal, dried strawberry, and white truffle. The structure is lean but inviting, with dried raspberry, orange zest, and dried tea as well as fine tannins.

16Jancis Robinson

Lifted balsamic nose with hints of exotic spice. In spite of its pale appearance there is plenty of concentration of ripe fruit on the palate, but it closes up swiftly. Bags of chewy tannins and notes of gingerbread, which might indicate late-harvested fruit.

REGION

Italy, Piedmont, Barbaresco

Barbaresco is one of the two most acclaimed DOCGs in Piedmont, the other being Barolo. Located just a few miles north of Barolo, Barbaresco is a small town of fewer than 700 people and 1,680 vineyard acres, making it less than half the size of the Barolo DOCG. The other communes in this DOCG of rolling hills are Neive and Treiso. As in Barolo, the DOCG requires that Barbaresco DOCG wines be 100% Nebbiolo, a grape thought of as the Pinot Noir of Italy. Records show that Nebbiolo was grown in the Piedmont as early as the 14th century, and despite being somewhat finicky – it is late to ripen and easily damaged by adverse weather --- Nebbiolo makes highly aromatic and powerful red wines. Until the mid-19th century Nebbiolos of Piedmont were vinified as sweet wines, though that ended in the late 19th century when a French oenologist was invited to Piedmont to show producers how to make dry reds. By the late 20th century respected producers were making outstanding Nebbiolos, as well as Nebbiolo blends that do not carry the DOCG label. Barbaresco was made a DOC in 1966 and upgraded to a DCOG in 1980. DOCG Barbaresco must be aged a minimum of two years, with a minimum of one year in wood. Barbarescos are regarded as more subtle and refined than Barolos, and more approachable when young.

TYPE

Red Wine, Nebbiolo, D.O.C.G.

This red grape is most often associated with Piedmont, where it becomes DOCG Barolo and Barbaresco, among others. Its name comes from Italian for “fog,” which descends over the region at harvest. The fruit also gains a foggy white veil when mature.