Ettore Germano Barolo DOCG Cerretta 2017

Cerretta is a small village within the prestigious Serralunga d'Alba commune, known for producing some of Barolo's most enchanting wines. The terroir here creates wines with exceptional structure and longevity, which is why it has become a favourite of renowned Australian wine critic Gary Walsh. Ettore Germano's 3.2 hectares in Cerretta feature vines planted just after World War II, giving them the maturity needed to produce grapes of extraordinary depth and complexity.

This wine achieved something truly remarkable - Huon Hooke ranked it as the #1 Barolo from the 2017 vintage out of 183 wines he reviewed. This places it at the absolute pinnacle of what was already considered an excellent vintage in Barolo. The combination of 97 points from The Real Review and 96 points from Wine Enthusiast demonstrates consistent recognition of its exceptional quality across multiple expert palates.

Ettore Germano follows time-honoured Barolo traditions that have been refined since 1856. The nebbiolo grapes are hand-harvested and transported in small baskets to preserve their integrity, then gently destemmed and pressed to avoid harsh extraction. After fermentation, the wine is aged in medium-sized oak barrels for 18-24 months depending on the vintage characteristics, allowing the wine to develop its signature complexity while respecting the fruit's natural expression.

These classic nebbiolo flavours represent different stages of the wine's evolution and complexity. The cherry notes come from the grape's natural fruit character, while the leather and tobacco develop through the interaction of nebbiolo's high tannins with oak aging and bottle maturation. This flavour progression is typical of premium Barolo, where primary fruit gradually gives way to more savoury, tertiary characteristics that make these wines so compelling for long-term cellaring.

The 2017 vintage in Barolo is considered exceptional, producing wines with both power and elegance that will age beautifully for decades. This particular wine's recognition as the top 2017 Barolo by Huon Hooke makes it a benchmark for the vintage. Given that Barolo typically requires 10-20 years to reach its peak, the 2017s are entering their optimal drinking window while still having tremendous aging potential ahead of them.