Medium garnet color; cherry, raspberry, cranberry, balsamic, tar, licorice, orange peel, rose hip, dried flowers, leather, black tea on the nose and palate.
Dry; firm, well integrated tannins; bright, balancing acidity. Medium-plus body. Smooth, easy drinker after decanting. Complex, rich texture. Features structure and fruitiness rather than power. Nice length. Entering its drinking window after six years, but can age for decade-plus if you have the patience. Made with 100% nebbiolo from single certified organic vineyard, Bricco Voghera, in Serralunga d’Alba, one of Barolo’s most respected hillside sites.
Grapes are destemmed and crushed, then placed in small vats to ferment at 64º F for 72 hours, then fermented for 30 days with gentle pump-overs at 79º F. Full malolactic conversion. Racked and aged 24-plus months in Slavonian oak botti—very large oak casks, traditional with barolo. Casks range from 400 gallons to more than 2,000 gallons, significantly muting the effect of oak. Botti casks are used to mellow tannins without adding spice, toast, or vanilla. Let the nebbiolo grapes make the statement. This does. 14.5% ABV
Tenuta Cucco is part of a family operation. The website explains: “Tenuta Cucco became part of Tenimenti Rossi Cairo, the holding company covering the agricultural activities of our family, in 2015. We were attracted by the rows of the Cru Cerrati vineyard that surround the winery, the antique structure of the cellar, the tasting room with a view of mount Monviso and the nearby presence of an extraordinary French stronghold: the Castle of Serralunga d’Alba. Nature and history, intertwining in the Langhe territory, reach a true high point in this context. We immediately realized that Tenuta Cucco could be a new opportunity to continue our project of practicing and promoting high quality sustainable agriculture, which safeguards diversity while preserving the territory for future generations.”
The winery and vineyards have a long history. In 1966, the Cappellan family sold Tenuta Cucco to the Stroppiana family. The Stroppiana family built the first winery, prior to that grapes from the property were sold to other producers. The website notes: “In January 2015 the estate passed to the Rossi Cairo family, which for more than 20 years has run the organic and biodynamic farm La Raia in Novi Ligure.” The Rossi Cairo family brought the same attention to organic and biodynamic grape growing to Comune di Serralunga d’Alba vineyards.
Tenuta Cucco Barolo Bricco Voghera DOCG 2020 is a serious, age-worthy, classic Serralunga d’Alba expression of nebbiolo from a certified organic vineyard. Highly structured, mineral-driven. Save for serious wine pairing, this is not a weekday pizza wine. It can deliver serious pleasure now or hold for long-term aging. $70-85
Pairing—Brasato al Barolo (beef chuck or brisket braised 2.5-3 hours in Barolo wine); osso buco (veal shanks braised with stock, wine, aromatics); venison stew, slow-cooked venison; wild boar ragù, long-cooked pork. Veal chops, vitello alla Piemontese (thin-pounded veal escalopes, breaded and fried); braised lamb shoulder or neck. Avoid fish, lighter meats, poultry, light preparations in general. Cheese—Aged, hard cheeses; parmigiano-reggiano (aged 36+ months); Castelmagno DOP (semi-hard, pressed cow’s milk cheese from same province as Serralunga d’Alba); pecorino romano (aged 12-24 months); gorgonzola piccante. Avoid fresh, soft cheeses (ricotta, fresh mozzarella, chèvre); overly pungent washed rind cheeses; young, mild cheese (young cheddar, havarti, Monterey Jack.
Tenuta Cucco Barolo Bricco Voghera DOCG 2020
