Barolo, Cerretta, Vigna Bricco, 2014

A different profile to the other Barolos, darker and more solid but not lacking in class or vitality. Quite a delicately reductive nose that then morphs into dark chocolate, cocoa, salt and cherries. There are many layers of flavour to peel back here – herb, cracked clay and rock salt emerge finishing on vivid, wild alpine berry notes. A clear Serralunga character with an alpine, mouth-watering freshness. Crisp vertical tannins and good acidity provide definition and structure. An upright style of wine but it does not lack for concentration or depth of flavour. A beauty. A fine Serralunga vineyard produced for the first time by Altare in the 2006 vintage, Cerretta is made and aged the same way as the estate's other Barolos, 24 months in a third new oak but with an extra two years bottle age before release. Less than 5000 bottles are made a year.