Barbaresco, Bricco Mondino, 2020

Offered for the first time this year, Busso’s Barbaresco Mondino comes from the MGA Balluri, abutting the northern edge of Albesani. At 180-220m, this parcel was originally known as “Bricco Mondino” to indicate its elevated position, and was first bottled as a single vineyard in 1985, their second cru wine after Albesani. Benefitting from the same south west exposure as Albesani and Gallina, it has a more fruit forward personality, allied to a winemaking process that accentuates its supple nature. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in 25hl barrels for 18 months, Mondino is the perfect introduction to the Busso style. The 2020 proffers lashings of fragrant, flattering cherries, kombucha, hyacinth and black raspberry, with a succulent finesse to the tannins. Its freshness and joie de vivre mark it out as an outright delicious bottle.