2021 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Vigna Cerretta DOCG, Piedmont

Bright, elegant ruby red. Fragrant on the nose, with aromas of potpourri, ripe raspberry ripe peach, watermelon, hints of cinchona bark, mint and sage, subtle stony tones. Great attack on the palate, fine creamy fruit, embedded in tightly woven tannins and a very long finish.

99 points falstaff.com

A racy and fine red with tangy acidity and bright red fruit. Orange peel. Medium body, fine tannins. Lovely finish. Two years in casks. Classy. Drink or hold.

94 points jamessuckling.com

Giacomo Conterno Barolo Vigna Cerretta DOCG is a wine of commanding presence and deep territorial identity, drawn from one of the most important parcels in the Conterno family’s modern story. Cerretta sits on the steep slopes of Serralunga d’Alba, a commune famous for producing Barolo of towering structure and profound longevity. The soils are a complex mix of compact clay and ancient marls rich in minerals, giving Nebbiolo not only stern tannins but also an unmistakable iron tinged savouriness. The vines here are tended with meticulous precision, yields kept exceptionally low, and harvest done berry by berry with an almost obsessive pursuit of purity. Fermentation takes place in large wooden vats using indigenous yeasts before a long maturation in large Slavonian botti, allowing the vineyard to speak without adornment.

The aroma is layered, introverted at first and then thrillingly expressive with time. Dark red cherry, plum skin and raspberry intertwine with rose petals, potpourri and dried herbs. Classic Serralunga notes of tar, leather, tobacco and iron rich earth build slowly beneath the fruit. The mineral character is unmistakable: crushed rocks, graphite and the scent of the hillside after rain. Hints of anise, cola nut and orange rind emerge with air, constantly shifting as the wine opens.

On the palate, Cerretta is powerful, linear and finely coiled. Pure Nebbiolo tannin wraps the fruit in a firm embrace, giving shape and persistence rather than heaviness. Sour cherry, redcurrant and pomegranate glide across a core of stony precision, deepened by savoury undertones of truffle, balsamic and smoky spice. The acidity is alive and taught, stretching the flavours toward a finish that echoes long with rose, citrus peel and mineral tension. This is a wine that demands time: ten to fifteen years in bottle will reveal the full tapestry of complexity, and the best bottles can mature gracefully for thirty years or more.

A majestic match for slow braised beef, mushroom risotto, truffle dishes, aged Parmigiano Reggiano or wild game. It is not simply a wine but a journey into the heart of Serralunga, showing Nebbiolo in its most serious and soulful form.