Fausoni Barbaresco Nebbiolo

Ever so slightly corked.

Lunch wine #2 - perfect with a slight chill on it, letting strawberry and smoky earth, dried herbs, flowers, and licorice swirl refreshingly on the palate. The “Fausoni” comes from 40-year-old vines. This wine is in prime drinking shape but would easily last and probably improve for another decade I think.

The most forward and fruity of the Sottimano wines I’ve tried.

The 2016 Barbaresco Fausoni is another superb wine in this lineup of 2016 Barbarescos from the Sottimano family. Bright floral and citrus overtones give the 2016 a vibrant, chiseled feel. Sweet red/purplish berry fruit, blood orange, spice, menthol rose petal and lavender are some of the many notes that flesh out in this super-expressive, mid-weight Barbaresco from Sottimano. Aromatically lifted, dense on the palate and also very structured, the 2016 is a very complete Fausoni. The 2016 finishes with tremendous persistence and a classic sense of austerity that is compelling. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2019)

Light Cherry, strawberry, red raspberry, leather, earth/mushroom, stone. Tannins and acidity are still fairly high, though primary fruit is diminished.

Modern but typicity still shines through. Ripe but not OTT. Very good.

Will be ready sooner rather than later

Sugo for dinner or barbaresco!

Medium to full-bodied, and pours a garnet with bricking on the rim. Initially, I was a bit worried about this one. Upon opening it was closed and austere with a super-tannic finish, and the recent reviews on CT didn’t leave me optimistic. But after a three hour decant it loosened up and improved considerably. Scents of balsamic, dried fruit, and leather came through on the nose. On the palate, an initial surge of violet is combined with some interesting notes of black cherry, cloves, leather, and forest floor. Overall, very tasty. It has a smooth mouthfeel up to the finish, which is tannic-centric with primarily black-tea coming through along with some black pepper and balsamic hints as well. Still has nice acidity. I wish I had another bottle to see how this tastes five years from now.

Last had 2 years ago and this is again improved since then. Good reminder that especially these “named” Barolo or barbaresco can take the 12+ years even from a year that is perhaps not as talked about than others. Decanted 1.5 hours. Aromas leap from the glass. Excellent balance of fruit and earth with that delicious refreshing acid on the finish. Could go longer, tannins are definitely still there. But a nice wine at this point.