Ceretto : Brunate 2018

Tasting Notes and Serving Suggestions for Brunate 2018 by Ceretto

Tasting

Appearance

The wine shows a bright ruby-red hue, with garnet and orange highlights along the rim of the glass.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet reveals remarkable complexity. It opens with elegant floral notes of violet and dried rose, alongside red fruits such as cherry and sour cherry. In the background, nuances of licorice, balsamic touches, as well as aromas of forest floor, cinnamon and tea leaves unfold.

Palate

On the palate, this wine captivates with its elegance and refined structure. The palate reveals flavors of soft red fruits, notably cherry, enhanced by notes of plum and dark berries. The tannins are fine and well integrated, bringing a silky texture. Sandy minerality and a firm mineral core lend definition and persistence to the whole. The finish, precise and concentrated, lingers with distinction.

Food and wine pairings

This Barolo is an ideal match for roasted meats and braised game such as venison or wild boar. It also pairs beautifully with dishes featuring white or black truffles, wild mushroom preparations, a saffron risotto, or aged cheeses such as Parmigiano-Reggiano. Pork-based dishes, notably braised pork shanks, also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

This Brunate 2018 can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve until around 2042.

An elegant and refined Italian red wine from Piedmont by Ceretto

The estate

Founded in 1930 by Riccardo Ceretto, the estate is rooted in the Langhe, in Piedmont, after beginning as a négociant without vineyards. The decisive turning point came with Bruno and Marcello, who acquired land and placed terroir at the heart of the project. The estate is now owned by Lisa, Roberta, Alessandro and Federico Ceretto, with responsibilities shared across technical, sales, finance and operations.

The vineyard

The Brunate vineyard occupies a prestigious position straddling the communes of La Morra and Barolo. Ceretto owns a little over five and a half hectares dedicated to this cuvée. The vines benefit from an optimal south to southeast exposure and extend across a remarkable altitude range, from 230 to over 400 meters above sea level. This variation creates distinct microclimatic conditions. The soils are composed of Tortonian marls rich in sand, particularly in the upper parts of the vineyard. This geological makeup gives this Barolo wine its signature aromatic finesse and textural elegance.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage was marked by warm conditions in Piedmont. This warmth encouraged excellent phenolic ripeness and pronounced aromatic development. The Ceretto estate, thanks to its biodynamic practices, was able to preserve the essential balance and freshness despite the heat, producing high-quality grapes perfectly suited to the year’s conditions.

Winemaking and aging

After harvest, the Brunate 2018 grapes are vinified in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks with indigenous yeasts. Fermentation is accompanied by gentle punch-downs and pump-overs. Maceration lasts 20 to 25 days. Malolactic fermentation then takes place in oak barrels. Total aging lasts three years: a first period in neutral 300-liter barrels, followed by two years in large 50-hectoliter oak casks. After this maturation in wood, the wine continues to evolve in bottle for at least one year before release.

Grape variety

100% Nebbiolo