Barolo, Cerretta, Vigna Bricco, 2018
Paler hued than previous years, a diversion from its true inner power, the Cerretta 2018 is broad and complex on the nose, leading to a snappy salty muscular Serralunga palate. A fine clay-rich 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 but with an extra two-years bottle age before release.
critic reviews
The 2018 Elio Altare Barolo Riserva Cerretta Vigna Bricco is from Serralunga d'Alba. It has aromas of sweet tobacco, mixed sweet spice and wild flowers with a blue flower note. This is followed by a beautiful, velvety, seductive texture, sandy-textured tannins and mouth-watering acidity with a savory, lingering finish. It is very, very appealing. Keep for two to three, drink for up to 25-30 years.
The 2018 Barolo Riserva Cerretta Vigna Bricco is a big, powerful wine that shows all the breadth of Serralunga. Black cherry, smoke, tobacco, gravel, licorice and incense open to reveal a Barolo of tremendous depth and resonance. The Cerretta obviously stands out in this range because of its size, but it all works so well. The 2018 is still coming together nicely. It holds tremendous promise.