With the Barolo Zonchera 1997, Ceretto presents a classic Barolo from the house’s early golden era. Rather than a single vineyard in its own right, Zonchera is the traditional name for Ceretto’s classic Barolo, derived from the historic Zonchetta vineyard site. Its Barolo origin and calcareous marl soils endow the Nebbiolo with freshness, structure, and a clear mineral contour. The great, warm 1997 vintage yielded ripe, concentrated grapes, imparting the generous fruit profile typical of the year.

On the nose, the Barolo Zonchera 1997 today reveals a mature, multi-layered tapestry of red cherries, dried roses, and darker berries, joined by tobacco, leather, forest floor, cedarwood, and delicate spice notes. With aeration, the bouquet evolves further towards truffle, dried herbs, and a subtle balsamic savouriness. No longer primary, the fruit is now intricately interwoven with the tertiary aromas of extended bottle age.

On the palate, the Barolo Zonchera 1997 marries the ripe fruit of the vintage with still-supportive acidity and well-preserved tannins. Significantly more supple today than in its youth, the structure nevertheless retains ample grip and tension. A fine mineral savouriness accompanies the wine into a long finish, where red fruit, tea leaf, tobacco, and spice increasingly define its mature character. Compared to the more austere, cooler Barolo vintages of the 1990s, 1997 shows a fuller, more approachable profile.

Here, the signature of Ceretto combines classic Barolo structure with a relatively accessible, aromatically open style. Today, the Barolo Zonchera 1997 rests on a lovely plateau of maturity. When well cellared, it can continue to expand its tertiary complexity, with the interplay of mature fruit, acidity, and savoury depth now taking centre stage.