Name: Sottimano Barbaresco Pajore 2016 1.5Ltr
Brand: Sottimano
SKU: 829583
Price: 250.8 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 94.3 (6 reviews)

Winery Sottimano

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Varietal Nebbiolo

The Nebbiolo grape varietal is widely understood to be the fruit responsible for Italy's finest aged wines. However, its popularity and reliability as a grape which gives out outstanding flavors and aromas has led it to be planted in many countries around the world, with much success. These purple grapes are distinguishable by the fact that they take on a milky dust as they begin to reach maturity, leading many to claim that this is the reason for their unusual name, which means 'fog' in Italian. Nebbiolo grapes produce wines which have a wide range of beautiful and fascinating flavors, the most common of which are rich, dark and complex, such as violet, truffle, tobacco and prunes. They are generally aged for many years to balance out their characteristics, as their natural tannin levels tend to be very high.

Country Italy

There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.

Region Piedmont

Situated in the north-western part of Italy, the region of Piedmont is known worldwide and is highly respected for the quality of the wines produced there. Many of the most successful sub-regions in Piedmont produce many of the world's finest red wines, such as those made from the excellent Nebbiolo grape varietal in areas such as Barolo and Barbaresco. However, the historic wineries which typify this region use a relatively wide variety of grapes, including Dolcetto and Barbera for their red wines, which are typically aged and have a delightful velvety character. Piedmont isn't all about beautifully complex red wines, though, as it is also famed for high quality, elegant sparkling wines, notably the Asti wines made with the white Moscato grape. The region benefits from a range of terroirs which are often well expressed in the sparkling wines, and a wonderfully consistent climate ideal for vineyard cultivation.

Appellation Barbaresco

Barbaresco, a jewel within Italy’s Piedmont region, is an illustrious wine appellation celebrated for its exceptional Nebbiolo wines. Nestled alongside the Tanaro River, its unique terroir, characterized by marl and calcareous soils, imparts a distinct finesse to the grapes. What sets Barbaresco apart is the Nebbiolo grape’s expression—marked by elegant tannins and a captivating balance between power and grace. The region’s temperate climate and significant diurnal temperature variation enhance the grape’s aromatic complexity. Barbaresco wines, with their notes of red berries, roses, and earth, offer a refined alternative to the robust Barolo. Recognized for their approachability in youth yet capable of impressive aging, Barbaresco exemplifies the artistry of Piedmontese winemaking, inviting enthusiasts to savor the rich tapestry of flavors and the inherent elegance of Nebbiolo.

JS 96pts

James Suckling

The nose is so fragrant but deep, taking you on a roller-coaster ride through dried nutmeg and thyme, red licorice and tar, dark brambleberries and spices. The full-bodied palate has marvelous polish and brilliant minerality, but even these pale in comparison to the raw power and meatiness in which this Barbaresco excels. A wine that will stun now, but delight in 2023.

WE 96pts

Wine Enthusiast

Elegant and structured, this full-bodied wine has aromas of ripe black-skinned berry, leather, menthol and baking spice. The focused palate shows great freshness and finesse, offering cranberry, red cherry, vanilla and licorice set against firm, fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity before a tight orange zest finish. Drink 2024–2036.

VM 95pts

Vinous Media

The 2016 Barbaresco Pajorè is powerful, dense and explosive, as the best wines from this site tend to be. Deeply balsamic, with tremendous depth, the 2016 opens up effortlessly on the palate. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2016 needs quite a bit of time to be at its best, despite its considerable appeal today. Menthol, spice, leather and licorice infuse a core of dark fruit with striking layers of nuance.

WA 94pts

Wine Advocate

Sottimano has five vineyard sites, and the Pajorè site near Treiso has the poorest soils of them all. These wines are more elegant and ready as as result. The 2016 Barbaresco Pajoré sees 40-plus days of maceration and one month of submerged cap in oak (the same goes for all of their Barbarescos), and this can be done only when the skins are perfectly healthy. Remember that this is organic farming we're talking about. The skins are still crunchy. Here you'll find a spicy, elegant and sweet Nebbiolo that is fine and yet really covers the mouth well. I picked up some exotic flower notes that are hard to pinpoint, and once again, the nice saline mouthfeel is impressive. Some 6,000 bottles were made.

WNS 93pts

Wine & Spirits

From a limestone-rich cru in the Treiso commune, this dark-fruited and stylish. The wine aged in barriques for two years, just 10 to 15 percent new, yet it carries the oak imprint more prominently than Sottimano’s other crus from this vintage. Still, the rich, resinous texture, polished tannins and warm spice notes promise that this will age well over the next few years.

DC 92pts

Decanter

Another fine Barbaresco from the Sottimano family, this barrique-aged Pajorè from Treiso is a touch more forceful, if less elegant, than their Basarin. There are red fruits on the strident and pungent nose. The attack is fresh and nimble but concentrated, and sweet tannins contribute force to the elegant and long finish, yet it's not too extracted. Drinking Window 2020 - 2038

Winery Notes

• Nebbiolo from 50 to 70-year-old vines planted in Treiso to soils rich in limestone. • Maceration and fermentation with indigenous yeasts over 25 days in French barrels coopered expressly for Sottimano by Francois Frères in Burgundy. • Aged in barrel for appoximately 24 months, half of this time on its lees. • 10-15% of the barrels used for aging this wine are new, the remaining barrels have previously been used up to 4 times. • No fining or filtration.