Barbaresco, Sori Tildin, 2016

A south facing site on the same hill as Costa Russi but just above it, sitting at 260 metres above sea level. The soils are blue and grey marne - more limestone influenced and less clay than in Costa Russi. The vines are 45 years old. Being the shallowest soils of the Crus with a tuffeau layer at its highest, the wines can be very compact and tight in their youth. Less open and juicy than the Costa Russi, more savoury and structured but also a lot more velvety too. Dark fruit predominates with notes of stone and an edge of eucalyptus. Dense but with real interest and the most beautiful of textures, this is a class act indeed. Fermentation and maceration is for 3 weeks followed by 24 months in oak barrels - one year in tonneaux and one year in large casks.