2020 Luigi Baudana Barolo Cerretta

The soil of Cerretta is a pure Formazione di Lequio, formed approximately 12 million of years ago in the Serravallian epoch. Dominated by calcareous limestones, this origin translates into a wine of breed, with complex aromatics, spices, a broad and austere palate building into a long lasting final.

Fruit for the 2020 Luigi Baudana Barolo Cerretta was picked on October 9th. Differently from Baudana, the kinetics of fermentation of this vineyard is much slower. Fermentation was followed by submerged cap maceration for a total of 50 days. Punch-downs and gentle pump-overs are the only operations over the time of maceration. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation happened in the following spring. Aged 28 months in custom-made, large Slavonian oak casks of 15, 17, 25 hectoliters. Bottling on July 10th, 2023.

The 2020 Barolo Cerretta has a deep ruby color. An elegant, austere style combining freshness and power, showing peppery dark- cherry, rose petals, tobacco and balsamic notes on the nose. The mouth is layered, with cherry, orange peel, Tasmanian pepper, and blackberries. The tannic structure is intense and beautifully refined and persistent.

Liquorice, mint, very spicy and aromatic, red cherry and raspberry, but also kind of savoury and tobacco-laced. Nutmeg and fine grip to gently sandy tannin, sweet and slightly minty red fruit, almond paste richness, maybe some warming alcohol, but lots of flavour here, with a dry spicy finish of good length. Not quite the usual Cerretta power, but a good wine all the same. 94 points. Gary Walsh, The Winefront May 2024

A fresh and elegant Barolo showing rose petals, wild strawberries, sour cherries and dried citrus peel on the nose. It’s medium-bodied, with very fine tannins and a crushed stone minerality coming through at the end. Try from 2026. 93 points. JamesSuckling.com Feb 2024

Rich and sweet. A bit heavier than the Baudana. Needs time. 17++/20. Jancis Robinson Nov 2023