Ceretto : Barolo 2019

Tasting characteristics and advice for Ceretto’s 2019 Barolo

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a pale ruby-red hue with garnet highlights, emblematic of Nebbiolo’s elegance.

Nose

The bouquet opens with aromas of juicy cherries and plums, accompanied by floral notes with an almost musky nuance. With aeration, hints of dried rose, licorice, clove and white truffle emerge, enhanced by touches of cigar box, forest floor and sweet spices.

Palate

The palate is medium- to full-bodied, structured by firm, fine tannins that lend a refined, racy texture. Well-balanced acidity brings freshness and energy to the whole, leading into a long, persistent finish with mineral and herbal accents.

Food and wine pairings

This 2019 Barolo pairs beautifully with grilled red meats such as ribeye steak, slow-cooked dishes like osso buco served with mushroom risotto, or game such as venison or pheasant. Aged Italian cheeses—especially parmigiano-reggiano, pecorino romano or gorgonzola—also make excellent partners. Truffle and wild mushroom dishes create a particularly successful harmony with this wine.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to decant this 2019 Barolo for 8 to 10 hours before serving to allow it to open up. The ideal serving temperature is between 16 and 18°C. While the wine can be enjoyed now with extended aeration, it will gain in complexity and harmony with time. Best enjoyed from 2026-2027 through to around 2043, or even beyond for lovers of fully mature wines.

A classic Piedmont Barolo combining elegance and structure

The estate

Founded in 1930 by Riccardo Ceretto, the estate is a benchmark in Piedmont, in the heart of the Langhe, across emblematic areas of Barolo and Barbaresco. The estate stood out when Bruno and Marcello introduced a modern, then-innovative interpretation of terroir. Today, the family property is jointly run by Alessandro, Federico, Lisa and Roberta Ceretto, who share responsibilities.

The vineyard

This Barolo is the result of a blend of grapes from four emblematic communes of the appellation: La Morra, Barolo, Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d'Alba. This composition reflects the diversity of the denomination’s terroirs, combining the Tortonian sandy marl soils of the western areas, which bring elegance and floral fragrance, with the Helvetian soils of compact sandstone and limestone from the eastern sectors, which provide structure and power. This multi-commune blending approach aims to synthesize Barolo’s two souls: the aromatic finesse of the west and the austere strength of the east. The entire vineyard has been certified organic since 2015.

The vintage

The 2019 vintage in Piedmont is considered a classic year, shaped by balanced weather conditions. Winter lasted into March, with cool temperatures and adequate rainfall. Heavy rains in May during flowering led to a natural reduction in yields of around 20 to 25%. Summer saw warm spells in June and July, tempered by more moderate conditions in August. September proved ideal for the final ripening, with warm days and cool nights promoting the accumulation of sugars and ripe tannins while preserving acidity. Harvest took place in mid-October under optimal conditions for phenolic ripeness.

Vinification and aging

Vinification of the 2019 Barolo follows a terroir-respectful approach that favors natural expression. Fermentations are carried out with indigenous yeasts in a system that uses a pied de cuve to initiate the process. Maceration and fermentation last around twenty days, with natural protection of the must by the carbon dioxide produced during fermentation. Aging takes place in French oak barrels—tonneaux and 300-liter barriques—none of them new, in order to preserve the wine’s aromatic purity. Total aging lasts around twenty-four months before bottling.

Grape variety

100% Nebbiolo