Barolo is always in the discussion of the top premium wine regions in the world. If you are bothering to read this, then you probably already know that it is a small area in Piemonte in Northern Italy that produces only red wines made from nebbiolo. Barolo itself is divided into 11 communes (sub-regions) and these are even further divided into Crus. Serralunga d’Alba, one of the most famous of the communes, is home to Cerretta, a small village that is the origin of this wine. Cerretta consistently produces enchanting wines and has become a favourite of Aussie wine critic Gary Walsh who states ‘my love for this cru is probably quite well known by now.’

Ettore Germano, one of the top producers in Serralunga d’Alba, has been making wine since 1856. They make a range of Barolo from several different Cru, garnering some of the best reviews for their Cerretta. Ettore Germano has just 3.2 hectares in Cerretta with plantings going back to just after World War II. The grapes are hand-harvested, taken to the winery in small baskets and then gently destemmed, pressed and fermented before being racked to medium-sized oak barrels for 18-24 months, depending on the vintage.

2017 was a vintage to remember for Cerretta. This wine is an intense garnet in colour with a nose of ripe red fruits and vanilla. After the few years it already has had in bottle, hints of leather, tobacco and darker fruits have developed. The tannins are fine, readily present and elegant. Huon Hooke, one of Australia’s top wine critics, has declared this wine the #1 Barolo for 2017 out of 183 that he reviewed. It literally doesn’t get any better than that.