Sottimano with Elena Sottimano

Thanks to Simon for this visit.

Like La Ca’ Nova, Sottimano is a small family business. We were hosted at this tasting by the vivacious Elena Sottimano. The operation is Elena, her father and brother and three employees.

Sottimano has 14 ha under vines. As with a visit to Produttori, tasting at Sottimano is an opportunity to think about terroir, comparing the Cottà, Currà, Fausoni, Pajoré and Basarin Crus from the Treiso and Neive townships. The fruit in each Cru is typically from 40-65 year old vines.

Elena described Sottimano as “fully organic” since 1975 although they are only now obtaining certification.

Elena said that “every year, every Cru has the same vinification”. We toured the winery and saw that the vinification was mainly in barriques. However, over the years Sottimano has been backing off on the use of new oak in the Cru. For example, Elena said, in 2008 the Cru saw 20-25% new oak. From 2010, the percentage has been reduced to about 10%.

Elena talked about recent harvests and vintages at Sottimano:

- 2017 was a very difficult vintage with both frost and hail.

- 2016 is a vintage she sees as a “fantastic vintage” but “needing 10+ years in the cellar” for the Cru. 2016 was a cooler year than 2015 so harvest was later, as it was in 2014.

- 2015 is “a vintage to drink”. The products of a warmer vintage, Elena compared Sottimano’s 2015 Cru with their 2006s or 2008s. The 2015s had longer macerations than typical. She described the 2015s as “young but approachable”, so we were pleased to be tasting them …

• 2016 Sottimano Langhe Nebbiolo

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Elena said that the wine was 100% from Basarin fruit from 20-25 year old vines. The vineyard is south facing and the vines on the top of a windy hill. In 2016 there were large diurnal shifts, which Elena sees as a positive for this wine. There was a 20-25 day’s maceration on the skins here. An attractive, spicy nose of red liquorice, red cherries, raspberries and soil with a touch of dark florals. On palate, a nice Langhe Nebbiolo. Largely red fruited with spices and earth. Good weight with a little grip. But elegant with nervous acidity that adds to the interest of the wine. A good entry level wine.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2015 Sottimano Barbaresco Fausoni

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  From a Neive site on sand, soil and clay. Vines 45 years old. This Fausoni saw 30 days maceration on the skins and “old fashioned winemaking”, as Elena described it. A paler colour. Lovely, typical Fausoni herbal and floral aromatics. A fresh and breezy bouquet of mint, balsamico and earth. Also, as Andrew observed, a touch of orange peel. An elegant, crisp, fresh entry to the palate, with that slightly citric inflexion. Fine, clean and pure, but with some grip and chewy tannins on the finish. “Tight and a little closed”, said Elena. Excellent length. Very good.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2015 Sottimano Barbaresco Pajoré

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  For me, a step up from the Fausoni. From a high site (350 metres above sea level) in Treiso on limestone and some clay. Older vines. A bouquet of red cherries, raspberries and other red fruit, spices, liquorice and a “fumé” note Elena referenced (that put me in mind of smoky barbequed game meats). Silky, fine grained tannins in the mouth, elegant and refined but a lot of fruit volume and structure across the mid palate. The serious tannic and acidic structure made me think it’ll improve over the next 6-8 years.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2015 Sottimano Barbaresco Cottá

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  From vines as old as 50-60 years old on limestone with clay. A pot pourri of red and black fruit, including plums, cherries and raspberries, with a touch of blueberries. Also “lifted florals” (as Mark noted) which I saw more as a herbal lift. On palate, there is a lot of fruit volume and weight here, and tons of power. Thierry liked the “nervous quality” of the acids and Andrew pointed to the “sweet tannins”. It seemed like there was a lot of good components in this Cottá, and good potential, just that they’ll need quite a few years for this wine to come together. Hold for at least five years.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2015 Sottimano Barbaresco Basarin

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  A purchase of an additional Basarin vineyard has allowed Sottimano to produce this Barbaresco Cru for the first time in 2015. From a 1 ha vineyard of 40-45 year old vines. The vineyard is very high and steep and full south facing. A nose of red liquorice, spices, red cherries and other red fruit. Fresh but powerful. Good energy and focus. Very fine grained. My favourite of the 2015s.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Sottimano Barbaresco Currá

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Elena had no 2014 Currá to show us as it has been held back longer in bottle, she therefore opened a 2008 Currá. Elena mentioned that the 2008 was 20-25% new oak (as compared with 10% for more recent Cru). A lovely Barolo bouquet of red berries and cherries, soil and soy, a little minty. Pure and mineral on palate but with real power and weight. Red fruited with cocoa powder, warm earth and tartufo nero. Complex, deep and concentrated. A top wine of the day.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue