2021 Barolo Cerretta

The 2021 Barolo Cerretta sports a bright red hue and is deeper aromatically, offering notes of candied flowers, raspberry liqueur, hints of tiny blue flowers, and a quiet note of polished leather underneath that will come through with time. The palate offers broader tannins, more rounded fruit on the midpalate, and more depth and remarkable transparency. Its noble structure comes through on the finish, and while it has a complete feel all around, it demands more time. Cerretta was harvested on the 13th of October and saw a 42-day maceration on the skins before aging 23 months in cask. Drink 2027-2050. Since 2009, Luigi Baudana has been under the operation and ownership of the G.D. Vajra estate from Barolo. As with the Vajra estate, Giuseppe and Aldo manage the winemaking process, along with Giuseppe’s brother Isidoro, the vineyard manager. They continue to consult with Luigi for his understanding of the land and experience. They primarily use 15- to 17-hectoliter Slavonian barrels for aging, as the size of the cellar dictates. For the Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba bottling, selections are made from the crus of Baudana, Cerretta, and Costabella. They have been certified organic since 2019.

Starting off a bit slower than the other wines in this flight, the Luigi Baudana 2021 Barolo Cerretta is quite nervous and tightly wound at this point. Cerretta in Serralunga d'Alba is known for its powerful, age-worthy wines. Despite that initial shyness, this bottle does reveal layers of sweet fruit, grenadine and tart cherry. The wine is nicely balanced with chalky, elegant tannins.

The 2021 Barolo Cerretta is the most classically Serralunga of the three wines this year. Bold, searing tannins support a core of dark-toned fruit. Graphite, lavender, cloves, incense and licorice add to an impression of virile intensity. All this needs is time to soften a touch.