Region: Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy

Varietal: 100% Nebbiolo

Tasting Notes: A regal, elegant wine. Powerful yet delicate, with tones of understated power, The Sori Paitin is a textbook example of what fine Barbaresco can be. Sweet red cherry fruit, kirsch, mint, blood orange, spice, hard candy, and orange peel soar out of the glass, framed by silky yet incisive young Nebbiolo tannins. The balance here is just sublime.

Producer: Paitin Winery has a storied history that dates back to 1796 when Benedetto Elia purchased a farmhouse, wine cellar, and vineyards in the picturesque region of Barbaresco, Piemonte. Over the centuries, the winery has evolved significantly, starting with Benedetto’s son Giuseppe who expanded their vineyards and produced the first Barbaresco Sori Paitin in 1893. The winery gained international recognition with its first exports in 1898. The mid-20th century brought a new era under Secondo Pasquero-Elia, who modernized the facilities and replanting the vineyards with a focus on quality. Today, the legacy continues with his sons Giovanni and Silvano, alongside Giovanni’s son Luca, maintaining the family’s commitment to excellence and traditional winemaking.

Vineyard & Winemaking: The 2020 Sori Paitin Barbaresco Serraboella epitomizes the essence of this historic estate. The grapes for this wine are sourced from the warmest and sunniest slope of the Serraboella hill, known as Sori—Piemontese for “the sunniest spot.” This vineyard's unique calcareous clay and sandstone soils, combined with a south-southwest exposure, yield a Barbaresco of remarkable depth and elegance. The Nebbiolo vines, planted between 1953 and 1980, benefit from organic farming practices and meticulous manual harvesting. In the cellar, the wine undergoes a traditional fermentation with long macerations and aging in large, neutral oak barrels, enhancing its complex, nuanced profile. With its rich texture and powerful flavor, this Barbaresco is a testament to Paitin's dedication to preserving the timeless qualities of Nebbiolo.