BARBARESCO
2014 Fausoni Sottimano
From 45 year old vines in Nieve, the Fausoni 2014 is an immediately beautiful glass of wine. Young now of course but so refined with such perfectly ripened fruit it is already a delight to taste. The long ripening season into the end of October means that the tannins are so polished and ripe that the succulent fruit bursts on to your palate with joyous energy. This is expressive and lithe with red berry juice and plum-skin lift. This is pure and bright yet remains a fun, enticing Barbaresco that keeps you going back for more. L&S (Aug 2018)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
This Nebbiolo shows amber and garnet hues over a lean and delicate appearance. The 2014 Barbaresco Fausoni is broad and accessible in character. The bouquet really puts it all out there and holds nothing back. It delivers bright fruit, spice and white licorice. The fruit feels a degree riper and darker in this unusual vintage that ended with a blast of pre-harvest heat following a cool summer. The Fausoni vineyard is home to 45-year-old vines. Drinking range: 2012 - 2030 Rating: 91 Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (www.robertparker.com) (Oct 2018)
The 2014 Barbaresco Fausoni is all grace. Aromatic and lifted, with striking inner perfume and sweetness, the 2014 Fausoni is a terrific example of the year. Sweet red cherry, red plum, rose petal and mint infuse this pliant, super-expressive Barbaresco. In many years, Fausoni can be a bit lean, but in 2014, the late-ripening season allow for the full ripeness of fruit and tannin. What a gorgeous wine this is. Drinking range: 2020 - 2034 Rating: 93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Nov 2017)
Tasted blind. Neive. Deep ruby with bright orange tinges. Big, lifted nose like this has some volatile acidity. Rich palate yet with enormous acidic pull. Vigorous sour cherry finish with hints of oak that still need to integrate, but this is already gorgeous. Impressive length and balance. Drinking range: 2018 - 2028 Rating: 17.5 Walter Speller, www.jancisrobinson.com (Apr 2017)
The 2014 Barbaresco Fausoni is aromatic, lifted and striking in its beauty. Sweet red cherry and plum fruit is so sweet it nearly covers the tannins. Fausoni can be a bit tight In its youth, and while the Fausoni is certainly a young, tannic Barbaresco, it is also impeccably balanced. Scents of lavender, mint, sage and violet meld into the super-expressive finish. Above all else, the 2014 is a wine of finesse. With time in the glass the dark red and purplish fruit become more vivid and expressive. Delicate, polished and super-refined, the Fausoni is impressive today. Drinking range: 2020 - 2034 Rating: 93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Oct 2016)
Sottimano
The next generation of Andrea, Elena and Claudia Sottimano are now at the helm here and this exquisite estate continues to make better and better wines - some of the finest in Barbaresco. This sixteen hectare estate is based in the Cotta' region of Barbaresco, and the Sottimano family have over the years bought outstanding vineyards in the 'crus' of Currà, Cottà, Fausoni, Pajore and Basarin. In the vineyard they work organically and aim to limit yields. The winemaking is as low-intervention as possible, using only natural yeasts and then bottling without filtering or fining. All of these 'crus' are given exactly the same élevage, so as to allow the individual 'terroirs' to express their character. Terroir expression is the target here - and these amazing wines are as much an education as a joy to drink.
There are five different crus - each with very specific attributes where they produce their distinctly different Barbarescos. The latest edition is Basarin, with a mixture of clay, limestone and sand, is at about four hundred metres above sea level. This produces the estate's Langhe Nebbiolo, which is basically 'village Barbaresco', as the vines are very young (10-15 years old). It makes for wines that are always very elegant, refined, tannins are silky and softer, nuanced of spices and herbs (eucalyptus).
Fausoni, on sand and clay, makes wines that are always very elegant - mint, liquorice and little red fruits. This is in the historical part of Neive.
Currà, on clay and limestone, is one of the smallest cru of the whole appellation, wines are always very intense and powerful, hard-bodied and with good tannins. Hints of spices and smoke are characteristics of this area.
Cottà, on limestone with clay is one of the oldest cru in Barbaresco, vines are always very old here (fifty years and older) and the colours are just a little bit lighter than other vineyards (because of the clay), but they have a very distinctive nose of dark fruits and mint, a great elegance and mineral tannins.
Pajore is almost entirely on limestone with just a little clay. This is the highest vineyard of all, at 420 metres above sea level. The vines are very old, and it is always the most mineral and elegant of the four Barbarescos. Limestone brings into the wine a great purity of fruit, a distinctive aroma of spices and tobacco (cigar box) and a very unusual quality of tannins, firm but very mineral.
OFFER: All wines are offered subject to availability and final confirmation. The offer is for complete cases only.
PRICING: These pre-shipment offer prices are valid only for the offer period (and while stocks last), after which time prices will revert to normal for any remaining stock. Pricing is all 'in bond' (exclusive of VAT and duty) by the case size stated. If you would like to take wines duty paid them please indicate on your wishlist order form.
TO ORDER: Please order online, email our Private Client team, or call your usual shop or L&S contact.
DELIVERY: The wines are not yet physically available, but will be shipped over the course of the winter (2019). In most cases the wines will be delivered as they arrive with us, so if any are required by a certain date please advise us at the time of ordering. Duty paid delivery is subject to our usual terms and delivery schedule.
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