Cavallotto Barbera d'Alba Vigna del Cuculo 2021

Vigna del Cuculo is Cavallotto's Barbera from fifty-year-old vines inside the Bricco Boschis cru at Castiglione Falletto.

Barbera d'Alba is rarely given great Barolo land, which is what makes this bottling unusual. The parcel lies on the western side of Bricco Boschis and takes its name from the cuckoo, cuculo, for reasons nobody at the estate can now explain. Mature vines, low yields and that Barolo terroir do the work: the westerly aspect and the high proportion of limestone temper Barbera's natural acidity, and Alfio Cavallotto argues the site pushes the variety's aromatics closer to Nebbiolo. The winemaking is distinctive too, with up to 18 days on skins, a long maceration for Barbera, followed by 20 months in the same mature Slavonian casks used for the estate's Nebbiolo. What results has the plummy core particular to this vineyard, supple tannins, ripe but racy acidity and more depth and finesse than the variety usually offers.

Drinking well on release and good for five or six years. Serve at 16-18°C with braised beef, tajarin with butter and sage, or a rich mushroom pasta.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.