- Past Riserva bottlings from Sottimano came from the oldest vines in Pajore and Cotta
- The 2016 however – Sottimano’s last Vintage of Riserva – comes entirely from 80 to 90 year old vines in Curra
- 2016 is a benchmark year for the estate, in which they feel they reached the maximum level of expression for this wine after years of working organically in the vineyards
- The label is a throwback to his father’s first labels of the 1960s – and in fact the wine was made similarly in style
- The fermentation and maceration happens under submerged cap – no punchdowns or pumpovers – for 120 days
- The wine is then aged in large Gamba casks for 30 months
- A singular wine – 200 cases 6pks were produced
Info
Producer:
Vintage:
2016
Country:
Italy
Region:
Piedmont
Appellation:
Barbaresco
Variety:
Nebbiolo
Color:
Red
Farming Practice:
Practicing Organic
Sizes Available
| Full Bottle | IT-SOT-42-16 | 6/750ml |
Resources
Press & Reviews
James Suckling
Score
97
Date
2026-02-05
"Great garnet brightness in the glass, with a stunning nose full of depth and complexity, showing prunes, black truffles, tamarind, potpourri, licorice, mint and tobacco. Full-bodied. Tannins are firm and dusty yet condensed and ripe, tight-knit with fresh acidity. Superclassic."
Jeb Dunnuck
Score
97
Date
2026-04-14
"The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva comes from the estate™s oldest vines in Currà and undergoes manual selection before aging for 24 months in French oak. Pouring a deep but still bright red color, it reveals notes of darker cherries, cedar, and tobacco. The oak integrates seamlessly, and the wine shows depth and richness on the palate while maintaining refreshing acidity and ripe tannins. It combines concentration with freshness, delivering depth without weight and excellent clarity. Only released in exceptional vintages, this is the current release. Drink 2026-2046."
Wine Advocate
Score
97
Date
2025-06-19
"Only produced in the best vintages and held back for a late release, this spectacular wine represents a special selection of fruit from the oldest vines on a 1.5-hectare slope. The Sottimano 2016 Barbaresco Riserva M. Sottimano transports us back to one of the best vintages in this new millennium. Wines from 2016 balance both elegance and power, a difficult feat, and this bottle gives us the added pleasure of tertiary complexity. The bouquet is layered with dried cherry, tarry spice, licorice and rusty nail. The tannins are resolved, and the wine maintains a medium-plus texture. Winemaking for this limited 2,000-bottle release sees long maceration times with submerged cap and aging in large oak casks."
Vinous
Score
96
Date
2025-10-28
"The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva is all old-vine Currà. A dark, potent wine, the 2016 is super-impressive. At nearly ten years of age, it is still a very young wine. Dark-toned fruit, new leather, spice, menthol and espresso are all beautifully amplified in this ample, large-scaled Barbaresco. This is an especially dense style. As good as the 2016 Riserva is, I think the wines being made today are even better and more precise."
Jancis Robinson
Score
17.5+
Date
2025-06-19
"Mid to deep ruby with narrow bricky rim. Luxurious deep cherry fruit that opens up to a stunning array of aromas. Cherry, raspberry with hints of rosemary and cigar box. Still not fully open. Suave and succulent on the palate with fantastic, tactile fine gravelly tannins. Still not entirely ready. A monument of a Barbaresco. (WS)"