Ceretto 2022 Barolo Brunate 750ml

Brunate is genuinely one of the most representative vineyards in the entire commune of La Morra, long considered a true reference point for the whole Barolo appellation. Ceretto owns almost six hectares here, on slopes ranging from 230 to more than 400 meters, planted on the rich Tortonian-period soils of Sant'Agata fossil marl, with notable sand content, particularly on the steepest sections. The estate itself carries genuine pioneering history — Bruno and Marcello Ceretto were among the very first producers to release single-vineyard Barolo and Barbaresco, back in 1974, and the family's own copy describes Brunate as "the mother of naturally seductive wines," noting the site's Barolos "appear aromatically bold and supple right from the start," with "a carnival of flowers on the nose" in generous vintages, developing "autumnal tones and whiffs of smokiness" as they age.

2022 was a genuinely demanding, reset-defining vintage for Barolo as a whole, and Brunate specifically was among the crus that appear to have suffered more than others that year — making a wine of this caliber a genuine achievement. The 2022 is certified organic, fermented in stainless steel with native yeasts, then aged 30 months in 300-liter French oak barrels, followed by a further year in bottle before release.

The critical reception has been genuinely extraordinary. James Suckling awarded a remarkable 97 Points, describing a "spicy and slightly smoky wine with licorice and bark, embers, wild roses, stony minerality, blood orange zest and cinnamon candy," calling it "full-bodied, firm and velvety with moderate to refreshing acidity," a "dense and deep palate with a stunning finish," noting "the cru adds an extra dimension in this vintage" and that it's "youthful yet full of age potential." Robert Parker's Wine Advocate scored the wine 95 Points, finding "a perfumed quality with lavender and pressed violet that feel fleeting at first before unveiling deeper tones of raspberry, wild cherry and cinnamon," praising the site's "Tortonian Sant'Agata Fossil Marls" for shaping "wines of depth and power," noting the 2022 vintage "brings added richness and concentration with sweet layers of cherry fruit across the mid-palate, while dusty tannins lend structure." This is genuinely one of the standout wines of a challenging vintage — real proof of what Brunate's own storied terroir can achieve even in a difficult year.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Ceretto 2022 Barolo Brunate is produced by Ceretto, one of Piedmont's most respected wine families, founded by Riccardo Ceretto and expanded by his sons Bruno and Marcello, who were among the first producers to release single-vineyard Barolo and Barbaresco, in 1974. The wine is made entirely from Nebbiolo, sourced from Ceretto's nearly six hectares in Brunate, one of La Morra's most representative and celebrated vineyards, at 230 to over 400 meters elevation, on Tortonian-period Sant'Agata fossil marl soils with notable sand content.

The vineyard is certified organic. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, induced by native yeasts, followed by 30 months of aging in 300-liter French oak barrels, and a further year in bottle before release. Bottled at 14-14.5% ABV.

Critics Reviews

James Suckling — 97 Points:
"Spicy and slightly smoky wine with licorice and bark, embers, wild roses, stony minerality, blood orange zest and cinnamon candy. Full-bodied, firm and velvety with moderate to refreshing acidity, dense and deep palate with a stunning finish. Here the cru adds an extra dimension in this vintage. Youthful yet full of age potential. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate — 95 Points:
"The Ceretto 2022 Barolo Brunate, a certified organic wine, shows a perfumed quality with lavender and pressed violet that feel fleeting at first before unveiling deeper tones of raspberry, wild cherry and cinnamon. Sourced from one of La Morra's benchmark MGAs, where Tortonian Sant'Agata Fossil Marls shape wines of depth and power, the Nebbiolo is aged for one year in 300-liter French oak barrels followed by two years in larger French oak casks and an additional year in bottle before release. The 2022 vintage brings added richness and concentration with sweet layers of cherry fruit across the mid-palate, while dusty tannins lend structure and should integrate fully with time."

Ceretto (official house-style note):
"There is a carnival of flowers on the nose, accompanied by ethereal accents, in the generous vintages, or by a range of citrus notes, in the fresher years. In its youth, the wine is instilled with a fruit that seems sweet and whole, the tannins are able to enliven the mouthfeel and restore tension, without removing smoothness from its taste."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Spicy and slightly smoky, with licorice, bark, and embers leading, joined by wild rose, lavender, and pressed violet, alongside blood orange zest and cinnamon candy.

Palate
Full-bodied, firm, and velvety, with raspberry and wild cherry carrying sweet layers of fruit across the mid-palate, framed by stony minerality and dusty, structured tannin.

Finish
Stunning and dense, closing with moderate to refreshing acidity — genuinely youthful, with real long-term age potential.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Braised or roasted red meat
• Truffle-based dishes
• Aged, hard cheeses
• Rich, savory ragù