2006 Barbaresco Cotta Vigna Brichet

Medium red, a bit paler than the Fausoni. Reduced nose dominated by menthol and camphor. Sweet and powerful but medicinal and quite unforthcoming today, with youthfully tough tannins reaching the front teeth. There's good underlying red fruit intensity here but today this wine displays an almost Barolo-like power and structure and is very hard to taste.

The 2006 Barbaresco Cottá is the most open and round of these 2006 Barbarescos. The wine shows plenty of softness in its dark fruit, licorice, tar and smoke in a generous, enveloping style, capped off with a long, resonating finish. As is often the case the Cottá is the most accessible and sensual of these 2006s.

The 2006 Barbaresco Cotta is the most open and round of these 2006 Barbarescos. The wine shows plenty of softness in its dark fruit, licorice, tar and smoke in a generous, enveloping style, capped off with a long, resonating finish. As is often the case, the Cotta is the most accessible and sensual of these 2006s. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. These 2006 Barbarescos from Rino and Andrea Sottimano are divine. As outstanding as the wines are, their 2007s may be even better. Sottimano gave their 2006s 20 months in French oak, 25% new. These are very serious, beautiful Barbarescos readers will want to check out. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including: de Grazia Imports; tel. (417) 732-4200; Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; (516) 677-9300, Estate Wines Ltd., San Rafael CA; (415) 492-9411, Giuliana Imports, Boulder CO; (303) 547-6343, Robert Houde Wines, Bensenville IL; (630) 422-1119