Highlights: Sottimano Barbaresco Cottá 2018, Piemonte, Italy

Andrea Sottimano and his father Rino produce highly regarded, structural, age worthy wines from their 13 hectares across Barbaresco. This comes from 50-70 year old Nebbiolo in the heralded Cottá vineyard (between Neive and Barbaresco), and its limestone clay soils. Maceration and and native fermentation lasted around 40 days in French barrels (15% new wood), where it remained for 2 years (half with lees). It was bottled without fining or filtration. Alluring black and red cherry, crushed stones stream along the savoury, streamlined palate, with limestone lit freshness acidity belying its 14.5%. Scents of wild mint, scrubby perfumed roses and rosemary charm and linger on the saline finish, framed by long, fine, well-placed tannins. Drinking beautifully now, and with time in your cellar ahead. 95/100

Treve Ring

Treve Ring is a wine writer and editor, judge and speaker, and perpetual traveller. [She is also Correspondent Anorak.]