2019 Barbaresco, Bernadot, Ceretto, Piedmont, Italy

Treiso. Youthful-looking mid ruby. Rather closed on the nose and pure and concentrated fruit on the palate that is still a little embryonic and with firm but truly ripe, complex tannins. The finish is breathtaking, with perfect balance. Simply gorgeous.

Drink 2024 - 2036

Dried herbs, sour cherries, peaches and fresh mushrooms on the nose. Some cedar, too. Succulent and medium-bodied with fine, sleek tannins. Bright and well balanced. From organically grown grapes. 

Drink from 2023

The 2019 Barbaresco Bernardot is dark, fleshy and wonderfully nuanced. Soft contours and silky tannins give the 2019 its racy, super-inviting personality. The Bernardot is usually a potent Barbaresco, but in 2019 it is all finesse, all the way. Rose petal, mint, dried cherry and cinnamon linger in this super-expressive Barbaresco from the Ceretto family.

Tasting the 2019 and 2018 Barbarescos side by side is a great way to gain greater insight into the personalities of these two vintages. The 2019s are deeper and richer in feel, while the 2018s are more forward and also lighter in structure. Not surprisingly, production of the 2018 vineyard-designates was quite a bit lower than normal because of selection. Alessandro Ceretto generally gives the Barbarescos 20-30 days on the skins. Malos are done in barrique, after which the wines spend 18 months in cask.

Drink 2024 - 2039

Producing wines in Piedmont since the 1930s, in 2015 Ceretto achieved full organic certification. Bernadot is on the slopes in the upper part of Treiso village. This wine is fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts before going through malolactic conversion in small oak barrels. Aged in 300-litre oak barrels for 12 months, it then spends another 12 months in larger 3,000L oak casks with a final 12 months of ageing in bottle before release. 

Sweet, intense raspberry fruit on a poised and elegant nose. Stylish, with polished tannins and ample concentration. Good balance with just a trace of oak. This will be delicious. 

Redcurrants and cherries, some woodsmoke for interest although it could have a bit more weight in the mouth. 

 Sweet violet aroma first, restrained and youthful, smoky woodland. Firm yet ripe with velvety tannins, great lifted acidity and good length with potential for ageing. Allow it to open in the glass.

Drink 2022 - 2039

The organic Ceretto 2019 Barbaresco Bernadot shows a broader character and a more open-knit personality compared to the Asili. There is a lot of dark fruit, spice, truffle and earth to frame the medium-build of this elegant wine.

These new releases from Ceretto are all great, but the various expressions of 2019 Barbaresco are stunning. I especially recommend those wines.

Drink 2025 - 2045