Barolo Cerretta DOCG 2016 Germano

From another celebrated vineyard in Serralunga d'Alba, the Ettore Germano 2016 Barolo Cerretta is tight and finely-knit with a more subtle and delicate approach compared to the more austere and rich expression from Prapò. This 3.2-hectare vineyard delivers bright accents of blue flower and red fruit with licorice, toasted aniseed and cola. This wine reveals a fine and silky texture, yet you cannot underestimate the power that lays just under the surface. It should be interesting to watch this wine evolve over the next 10 years. The production of Cerretta with 17,500 bottles will be released in September 2020.

A subtle Barolo aromatically, offering tar, licorice, walnut and ripe berry. The palate is tight and powerful with chewy, fine tannins and a long, linear finish. This needs time to soften. Try after 2022.

The 2016 Barolo Cerretta is gorgeous. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, flowers and white pepper give this aromatic, mid-weight Barolo a real feeling of finesse that also comes through in the silky red berry fruit flavors. There is just enough grip to give the mid-palate and finish energy, but overall this is a relatively approachable Barolo that will drink well with minimal cellaring.