Barolo, Cerretta, Vigna Bricco, 2017

Lavish and full bodied the Cerretta 2017 exhibits baritone, brooding dark fruits with notes of balsamic, lavender, forest fruits, mint and cocoa. Intense, smart and glossy, this shows the density that one might expect from this clay-rich Serralunga vineyard yet it finishes on sweet fruit and incense and plenty of intrigue. 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 after fermentation in stainless steel, but with an extra two-years bottle age before release. Less than 5000 bottles are made a year.