The Fratelli Cigliuti winery is situated on the Serraboella hill, some 350 metres above sea level overlooking Neive, one of three villages responsible for producing Barbaresco. Renato inherited his father’s 6.5 hectare property which remains family owned and run and is now into its fifth generation with daughters Claudia and Sylvia. 

The famous west facing slope of Serraboella has more clay and loam through the soil than it’s neighbour Bricco di Neive, and as such Barbaresco Serraboella has more impact, more density than ‘Vie Erte’. But it does share the same open and complex aromatic profile, more or less. In the mouth, however – wow. Fruit sweet, rich, dark and mouth coating with plenty of chalky tannin to keep everything in check. And, to finish, great length, in a Pinot Noir-esq ‘peacock tail’ shape. Incredible wine.

What a terrific year 2019 is for Barbaresco. This is the best wine from Cigliuti I’ve tasted. So fragrant, all the rose and liquorice root, cherry, a little menthol, orange peel. Delightful succulence of cherry and liquorice, pumice stone tannin, that stony thing that’s so often a feature of Nieve, very fresh and long. Classic styling. Superb. Date: Apr 2023; Alcohol: 14%; Price: $165; Closure: Cork; Drink: 2024-2039; Rated: 96 Points; Gary Walsh; The Wine Front