2020 Cigliuti Barbaresco Serraboella, Piedmont

The 2020 Barbaresco Serraboella is another stellar wine in this range from Cigliuti. It offers a stunning mix of succulent dark fruit, rose petal, lavender, mocha and spice. The 2020 spent 26 months in oak, 70% cask and 30% tonneaux, the smaller barrels adding soft contours. Just bottled, the 2020 shows tons of potential. Blood orange, crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, rose petal and a kick of sweet French oak linger.

I was totally blown away by the wines I tasted at Cigliuti this year. The 2020 Barbarescos in particular are among the best wines I have ever tasted here. Both wines spent about 20 days on the skins, followed by 26 months in oak, long by Barbaresco standards. Cigliuti is not a new name, yet the wines remain surprisingly under the radar.

96 points AG vinous.com

A savory nose evokes a pine forest at summer's end , where wild herbs and drying red currant contrast the warmed earth tones and root spices that waft out of the glass. Vibrant flavors of cherry, cola nut, and an enticing medley of sweet and savory spices waltz across the palate, as if choreographed by an unseen hand. This Nebbiolo, an elegant yet stately figure, commands attention with its mere presence. Fine tannins and classic acidity promise a drinking window that starts now and could last decades, a timeless dance that will leave you enchanted.

96 points wineenthusiast.com

Cigliuti Barbaresco Serraboella is a deeply elegant and age-worthy Nebbiolo from one of the most prized vineyards in Neive. The Serraboella cru sits on steep, limestone-rich slopes that consistently produce Barbaresco wines of structure, perfume and mineral tension. This is the Cigliuti family’s flagship wine, sourced from their oldest Nebbiolo vines, many planted in the early 1950s.

Fermented in stainless steel using indigenous yeasts, the wine is then aged for about 26 months in large Slavonian oak botti. It is a traditional approach that highlights the vineyard’s pedigree and allows the natural energy of the site to shine through without distraction.

The nose opens with rose petal, wild strawberry, dried herbs, orange peel and crushed rock. On the palate, it is medium to full bodied with striking balance. Layers of red cherry, blood orange, licorice and sweet spices are framed by firm yet fine tannins and vibrant acidity. There’s a cool, savoury edge and a long, stony finish that reinforces its noble origins.

Food pairing: excellent with truffle dishes, roast duck, slow-cooked veal, wild mushroom pasta or aged cheeses like Castelmagno. Also ideal with braised lamb or game birds.

Cellar potential: outstanding. While it can be approached with a long decant, this wine is best enjoyed after five to seven years and will age beautifully for 15 to 20 years, gaining earthy, floral and balsamic complexity over time.