2019 Piero Busso San Stunet Barbaresco, Piedmont

“The 2019 Barbaresco San Stunet is a wine of real stature and depth. Macerated dark cherry, cloves, menthol, licorice, mocha, crushed rocks and dried herbs convey the essence of Treiso. This potent, virile Barbaresco has a ton to offer.” 

94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous

“Cherry, licorice, stony, grilled nuts. It’s a fleshy wine, bright cool acidity though rich nutty fruit, lots of fine crushed rock tannin, with a finish of excellent length. It has depth and interest, and there’s something about it that gets me in.” 

94 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

San Stunet is the only Busso vineyard not in Neive, and instead is in the village of Trieso. Busso farms 1.5 hectares of vines, which sit at 400 metres in altitude on a steep gradient (16%). San Stunet soils are mostly yellow marl with a lot of limestone. The Busso vines lie on the southeast face of the ridge which delivers the deepest and most articulate Nebbiolo of this cru. The site is late ripening, usually picked 10 days after the estate’s other vineyards.
 
The winemaking is identical to the Albesani Vigna Borgese above, but this has both more flesh and is punchier, suggesting both more tannins and acidity. Decant it and serve it in a Burgundy glass and you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful Nebbiolo loaded with character dark cherry, honey, leather, depth and structure. It would ideally get 10 to 15 years bottle age, but if not, then lots of air.