Cerrati

Cerrati: the longest tradition.

Today’s Cerrati MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva), which takes its name from its village of location, is rightfully considered one of the finest crus of Serralunga d’Alba and of the entire Barolo district. The statistics tell the story of this hill’s remarkable qualities: 93% of the entire slope is planted in Nebbiolo used to make Barolo.

Cerrati, also known in the past as Posteirone – a name that today indicates only the lower part, closer to Valle Talloria, with exposure that shifts slightly towards the east – is nestled on the central crest of Serralunga d’Alba, just to the north of the village settlement, with a breathtaking view of the castle that dates back to the 1300s. The southern exposure is perfect, especially in the initial portion closest to the houses of Serralunga, with an altitude that starts from about 400 meters above sea level and descends to 260 meters.

The soil, composed of gray marl alternating with layers of sand or reddish-gray sandstone, gives these red wines of Piedmont high tannic potential that ensures their famous longevity. The hill of Cerrati has an area of almost 13 total hectares, planted with Nebbiolo vineyards across approximately three quarters of the terrain.

The highest part (“cucco” in Piedmont dialect) of Cerrati has always been the finest, known since time immemorial as Vigna Cucco. This place was included in 1971 in the historical map of Barolo by Renato Ratti, which indicated its excellence (“a sub-zone of particular qualitative characteristics”), and it was later inserted by Slow Food in the Wine Atlas of the Langhe.

Made famous in the early 1900s by the Cappellano family, its owners at the time, Cerrati was partially purchased in 1966 by the Stroppiana brothers, who ceded it in 2015 to the Rossi Cairo family.

On the higher part of the hill where the white tufa stone is less deep and the exposure to sunlight is practically perfect, with part of the vineyard that has reached 50 years of age, Tenuta Cucco produces Barolo Vigna Cucco Riserva. This label that has existed since 1986 has a warm, full-bodied, powerful character.

Barolo Cerrati, thus labeled since 1996 and produced only by Tenuta Cucco, comes from a slightly lower altitude (with south/southeast exposure) and from slightly richer soil. The result is a forceful, tannic Barolo of remarkable austerity, in the pure Serralunga d’Alba style. The two wines, Vigna Cucco and Cerrati, offer exceptional ageing performance, both meeting the test of time with remarkable aplomb.