Ceretto : Barolo 2020

Tasting Notes and Serving Suggestions for Ceretto Barolo 2020

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a bright ruby-red hue, enhanced by luminous garnet highlights visible at the rim of the glass.

Nose

The nose opens on a complex bouquet of vibrant red fruits, notably cherry and plum, alongside delicate floral notes of dried rose and violet. Spicy and mineral nuances of cedar and crushed stone add depth, while subtle touches of tobacco, leather, and truffle bring an early tertiary dimension.

Palate

On the palate, the wine shows a medium-bodied profile supported by lively, refreshing acidity. The tannins are firm yet silky, with remarkable finesse for a young Barolo. The palate unfolds generous flavors of ripe red fruits, dried flowers, and spice, underpinned by a persistent mineral tension. The finish is long and precise, combining fresh fruit, dried rose, and mineral notes in an impressive balance.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Barolo is an ideal match for braised red meats, notably brasato al Barolo, as well as herb-roasted lamb. It pairs beautifully with feathered and furred game, mushroom or truffle risottos, and tajarin with butter and porcini. Aged cheeses such as Parmigiano-Reggiano also make excellent pairings.

Serving and Cellaring

It is recommended to serve this Barolo 2020 at a temperature between 15 and 18°C. Decanting for 30 to 60 minutes before serving will allow the wine to fully раскрыveal its aromatic complexity. Already very appealing, this wine will gain in harmony from around 2027 and can continue to improve until around 2040.

An Elegant, Accessible Barolo from Piedmont, Expressing a Generous Vintage

The Estate

Founded in 1930, Ceretto is an emblematic family estate in Piedmont, based in Alba and present in prestigious areas of the Langhe, notably in La Morra with the Brunate vineyard and the Chapelle de Barolo. Initially a wine merchant without vineyards, the estate scaled up with Bruno and Marcello, champions of a demanding interpretation of terroirs and soils, which led to the acquisition of vineyards. Today, the company is jointly run by the fourth generation: Lisa, Roberta, Alessandro, and Federico Ceretto. Since 2015, all products have been certified organic.

The Vineyard

This Barolo comes from a blend of organic and biodynamic parcels totaling around four hectares, spread across the four main communes of the Barolo appellation: La Morra, Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, and Serralunga d'Alba. This multi-terroir approach combines the finesse and roundness of the western soils of La Morra and Barolo with the structure and power of the eastern terroirs of Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d'Alba, creating a wine of great expressive complexity.

The Vintage

The 2020 vintage proved exceptional in Piedmont, marked by generosity without climatic extremes. A mild winter and a temperate spring were followed by beneficial rains in May and June, replenishing soil water reserves. Summer brought warm yet stable temperatures, with no heatwaves or violent weather events. September delivered welcome freshness with a few refreshing showers. Harvest took place in late September and early October, producing grapes at optimal ripeness, combining concentration, freshness, and supple tannins.

Winemaking and Aging

The Barolo 2020 grapes are vinified in stainless-steel tanks with indigenous yeasts, following a natural, minimal-intervention approach. Maceration lasts around twenty days to gently extract phenolic compounds. The wine is then aged for twenty-four months in neutral oak, first for twelve months in large casks, followed by a further twelve months in large foudres, thereby preserving aromatic purity and terroir expression without masking the fruit with oaky notes.

Grape Variety

100% Nebbiolo