The most austere among the Barolos of Baudana

Luigi and Fiorina have always tended their vines with incredible love. One episode really illustrates their care. Summer of 2008, two days after a serious hailstorm had hit Serralunga: their vineyards showed no signs of damage because the couple had ‘cleaned’ every single bunch to make sure ruined berries wouldn’t affect the rest of the fruit. Since 2009, the vineyards have been tended under the Vajra’s organic protocol. Intense research is also placed into monitoring and improving the biodiversity of both flora and fauna not just in the vineyards, but also in the winery fields and forests. The winery is sustainably and biologically certified.

Fruit for the 2021 Barolo Cerretta was picked on October 14th. Differently from Baudana, the kinetics of fermentation of this vineyard is much slower. Fermentation was followed by submerged cap maceration for a total of 54 days. Punch-downs and gentle pump-overs are the only operations over the time of maceration. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation happened in the following spring.

The 2021 Barolo DOCG Cerretta is elegant yet powerful. Ruby red grapefruit, ripe citrus, cherry, blackberry, dried roses, Tasmanian pepper tones and mint notes, all speak “Serralunga limestones” in this wine. The palate is mineral, with hints of Earl Grey tea, litchi, elderflower, orange peel and very structured yet elegant tannins.