2021 Cavallotto Barbera d'Alba Vigna del Cuculo, Piedmont

The Cavallotto 2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Vigna Cuculo has something a little exotic like toasted cumin seed or sweet cinnamon stick that pops from the bouquet. The wine’s core of fruit shows dark cherries or crème de cassis, and these come through especially well on the palate. This wine is a tight little package that shows elegance, and it delivers on all fronts: concentration, intensity and balance. The fruit also shows good length. Fruit comes from 50-year-old vines in the Bricco Boschis cru.

93 points Monica Larner robertparker.com

Cavallotto Barbera d'Alba Vigna del Cuculo is a serious, structured expression of Barbera that delivers the kind of depth and nuance more often associated with Nebbiolo. Grown on the prestigious Bricco Boschis cru in Castiglione Falletto — a site better known for Barolo — this wine shows what Barbera can achieve when planted in elite terroir and farmed with the same meticulous care.

The Vigna del Cuculo parcel sits on calcareous clay soils at high elevation and benefits from excellent sun exposure. The fruit is hand harvested and fermented with native yeasts in large Slavonian oak vats, followed by long ageing — typically 18 to 24 months — in large neutral casks. This approach preserves Barbera’s natural vibrancy while layering in texture and savoury complexity.

The nose is dark and intense, with black cherry, plum, violet, wild herbs, graphite and a touch of balsamic lift. The palate is rich yet balanced, with juicy dark fruit, high acidity and firm but polished tannins. There’s a streak of minerality and spice running through the core, finishing long and refined, with classic Piedmontese tension.

Food pairing: excellent with braised beef, grilled lamb, pasta with porcini mushrooms, aged cheeses like Castelmagno or Fontina, or game birds. Also superb with hearty vegetarian dishes like lentil stew or roasted root vegetables.

Cellar potential: outstanding. While this Barbera is vibrant young, it has the structure to age gracefully for 10 to 15 years, gaining savoury depth and complexity over time.