Ceretto : Prapò 2018

Tasting characteristics and advice for the 2018 Prapò from Ceretto

Tasting

Appearance

The color shows a ruby-garnet hue typical of young Nebbiolo, with a relatively pale shade that contrasts with the wine’s structural power.

Nose

The nose initially feels tightly wound, revealing a distinctive note of chilled black tea that is the vineyard’s signature. With aeration, the bouquet opens to raspberry aromas alongside creamy mineral nuances and forest-floor notes reminiscent of truffle. Elegant floral notes mingle with dark fruit and black cherry, then evolve into spices, cured meat and tobacco.

Palate

On the palate, the wine offers an elegant, firm structure with a linear profile that reveals flavors of flowers, berries, earth, hay and sweet spices. The texture charms with its remarkable silkiness despite a clearly defined structural complexity, carried by fine, delicate tannins. The palate is deep and savory, maintaining beautiful richness while preserving elegance. Mineral intensity runs through the entire tasting, completing the fruity expression without ever overpowering it. The finish is long and harmonious, moving from fruit and spice notes toward mineral elements that extend the tasting experience.

Food and wine pairings

This Barolo is an ideal match for braised meats such as osso buco, aged Parmesan, mushroom risotto or truffle pasta. The wine also pairs perfectly with duck stew. For bolder pairings, it harmonizes with lacquered duck, braised pork with soy and hoisin sauce, or Korean-style braised pork belly dishes.

Serving and cellaring

The 2018 Prapò is ideally served between 16 and 18°C. Decanting for one to two hours allows the tannins to develop and soften in young bottles.

A powerful, mineral Italian wine from Serralunga d'Alba by the Ceretto estate

The estate

Founded in 1930 by Riccardo Ceretto, Ceretto is an iconic family estate in the Langhe, in Piedmont. Initially a wine merchant and producer, the estate took off when his sons Bruno and Marcello acquired land, establishing a pioneering interpretation of terroir. Today, the property belongs to Lisa, Roberta, Alessandro and Federico Ceretto, with Alessandro overseeing technical operations and Federico in charge of sales. Certified organic since the 2015 vintage, Ceretto brings together benchmark viticulture, art (the Chapelle de Barolo renovated in 1999) and gastronomy.

The vineyard

The Prapò vineyard lies on the eastern slopes of Serralunga d'Alba, one of the five historic communes of the Barolo appellation. With a south and southeast exposure, it stretches between 270 and 380 meters in altitude. Ceretto owns 2.4 hectares of the cru’s total 8.5 hectares. The soils consist of Helvetian formations of compacted sandstone and limestone, rich in silt and clay (over 30%), giving the wines their hallmark intensity and power. The vines, planted in the 1970s, benefit from deep root systems that contribute to the wine’s phenolic complexity.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage produced elegant, refined Piedmont wines, favoring freshness and finesse over maximum extraction and power. Growing conditions encouraged the expression of a balanced style combining structure and elegance.

Winemaking and aging

The 2018 Prapò is made using spontaneous fermentation in stainless-steel tanks with indigenous yeasts, at controlled temperatures starting at 15°C and never exceeding 28-30°C. Maceration lasts twenty to twenty-five days. Malolactic fermentation takes place immediately after harvest in wooden barrels. Aging lasts around thirty months in French oak barrels and large Slavonian oak casks. The wine then benefits from a minimum of one year of bottle aging before release.

Grape variety

100% Nebbiolo