Tasting Notes and Serving Tips for the 2020 Bric Turot from Antinori - Prunotto

Tasting

Appearance

The wine shows an intense, bright garnet-red color, emblematic of Nebbiolo’s elegance.

Nose

The nose reveals beautiful aromatic complexity, with intense notes of violet and rose, lifted by nuances of candied red fruits, mountain hay, and sweet spices. Hints of licorice, cinnamon, and clove enrich the bouquet, while aromas of wild berries, fresh bay leaf, and sandalwood add further dimension.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and harmonious, with a velvety, enveloping texture. Flavors of tart cherry and cranberry burst across a vibrant palate, supported by intense balsamic notes. The tannins are fine and silky, perfectly integrated, while a lingering minerality carries through to a long finish with notes of leather and tea.

Food and wine pairings

This Barbaresco is an ideal match for braised red meats, feathered or furred game, as well as dishes featuring white truffle. It pairs beautifully with a Parmesan and hazelnut risotto, tajarin with truffle, or a brasato prepared with Barbaresco. Aged cheeses such as Castelmagno, Parmigiano Reggiano, or Gorgonzola also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

The 2020 Bric Turot is best enjoyed at a temperature between 18 and 20°C, in large, round glasses that allow the aromas to fully express themselves. Decanting for about one hour is recommended. This wine can be enjoyed now, but it will evolve gracefully until at least 2040.

An elegant and complex Barbaresco from Piémont by Prunotto

The estate

Founded in 1922 when Alfredo Prunotto and his wife Luigina took over a struggling cooperative, the Prunotto estate has belonged to the Antinori family since 1994, under the direction of Renzo Cotarella, CEO and chief winemaker. Based in Alba, in the heart of Piémont, the estate spans 71 to 74 hectares across the Langhe and the Monferrato. In 1961, Prunotto revolutionized Piedmontese viticulture by creating the first single-vineyard Barolo wines, notably the legendary Bussia. This innovative approach, inspired by Burgundy, helped establish today’s standards for Barolo classification.

The vineyard

Bric Turot covers around five hectares in the Barbaresco area, at an altitude ranging between 190 and 230 meters. The name comes from the Piedmontese dialect, in which “bricco” refers to the top of a small hill, locally known as “La Turota” or “La Torretta.” The vineyard benefits from varied southeast and southwest exposures, creating favorable microclimates that enhance the expression of elegance and complexity. The soils are silty-marl in nature, rich in mineral elements such as manganese, zinc, and boron, dating back to the Tortonian-Messinian era. This distinctive terroir configuration, combined with specific clonal selection, enables Bric Turot to express a unique character within the Barbaresco appellation.

The vintage

The winter of 2019-2020 in Piémont was mild with limited rainfall, followed by a relatively dry, sunny spring that encouraged early, even vegetative growth. May and June saw many rainy days that slowed vine development, while also building beneficial water reserves in the soils. Summer was marked by moderate temperatures which, combined with these water reserves, prevented any water stress. September brought excellent conditions with significant temperature swings between day and night, ensuring an ideal ripening phase. Harvest took place from September 27 to October 6 under optimal conditions.

Winemaking and aging

Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes for the 2020 Bric Turot were destemmed and crushed. Skin maceration lasted around ten days at controlled temperatures not exceeding 30°C, allowing optimal extraction of aromatic and tannic compounds. Malolactic fermentation was completed before winter. The wine was then aged for twelve months in oak barrels of varying capacities, including Allier and Slavonian oak vessels of 27, 32, 53, and 77 hectoliters. This diversity of containers made it possible to tailor aging to the specific characteristics of each plot. An additional year of bottle aging precedes release.

Grape variety

100% Nebbiolo.