Tasting notes

Camphor, new leather, sunbaked soil and the merest whiff of game appear in the glass. On the linear palate, polished tannins and fresh acidity accompany juicy sour cherry, pomegranate, star anise and espresso.

Description

This is the so-called base Barolo, or classico, that is designed to be an expression of the Nebbiolo grape more than any single-vineyard cru. The wine is satiny and silky with fine texture. Producers hate this "base" descriptor, because it implies an inferior product to a cru. Don't be misled: This is a Barolo-lover's Barolo. It's a true gem and an extremely elegant creation, and with 54,000 bottles produced, there is enough to go around. -Robert Parker

Vineyard

The Langhe hills of Piedmont constitute that area of northern Italy where the wide and flat Pò river valley suddenly disappears and gives way on all sides to hulking and precipitous slopes. The Langhe hills are more than hills. They are ancient and rugged earth. Their narrow peaks are topped by castles, and they are thick to the horizon with grapevines. The Langhe hills are home to a small group of farmers and winemakers who, together, have succeeded in creating some of the planet’s finest expressions of place.

Estate

Among the infinite rows of vines that run across the undulating hills of Piedmont are the four wineries of Ceretto, a wine and spirits company in its third generation. Founded by Riccardo Ceretto in 1937, the highly respected firm is now run by his sons, Bruno and Marcello (dubbed the “Barolo Brothers”) who in the 1960s began raising Ceretto’s profile and expanding its holdings. Now their sons and daughters are at the helm of the Langhe DOC company, which holds a total of 120 hectares of land that are the birthplace of an array of elegant still wines, sparkling wines, dessert wines, and spirits.