Cigliuti Vie Erte, Barbaresco DOCG, Italy 2019

The fruit comes from 40-year-old vines located in the Bricco di Nieve vineyard of Barbaresco. Elegant, yet quietly powerful in its expression, red cherry, roses, rhubarb, smoke, and alpine strawberries. In the glass, an underlying depth of leather, chocolate truffle, vanilla, and the required acid and tannins that make Nebbiolo the world-class are all present. Cigliuti is a small producer to keep an eye on.

"The 2019 Barbaresco Bricco di Neive Vie Erte is impressive. It shows the nervous energy that has long been its signature, but with a bit more depth through the middle than in the past. Whether that is the vintage or just the quality of older vines is harder to say, but it's pretty obvious the 2019 is impressive. Bright red fruit, orange peel, white pepper, mint and orange zest infuse this nervy Barbaresco from a southwest side on sand with tons of nuance. The classically austere finish, with its vibrant acids, is quite attractive. The Vie Erte was aged entirely in cask." Vinous 93