In early March Kathy and I attended a tasting in Washington DC by Empson USA. Empson USA is a distributor for their portfolio of Italian wine in the United States. I tasted several Borolos from several producers. My favorite producer was Azienda Agricola Conterno Fantino. This winery was founded in 1982 by Claudio Conterno and Guido Fantino. The two friends are interested in conserving energy at the winery and in creating environmental sustainability. The property has 26 hectares (64 acres) under vine. The winery is located in the Monforte d’Alba area of the province of Cuneo.

Wines

The first wine tasted was the Barbera D’Alba Vignota DOC 2017/2018. The wine was made with 100% Barbera from a limestone and marl vineyard in the village of Monforte d’Alba. The organically grown grapes were hand harvested in early autumn. Fermentation and maceration took place in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged in French oak barrels. The wine had a translucent dark ruby color with a red hue. Red fruits were on the aroma and the taste included cherries, black raspberries and leather. The wine was medium bodied and had medium/bold tannins. The finish included fruit and leather.

The next three wines were all examples of Barolos. All were made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes. The 2016 Barolo Castelletto “Vigna Pressenda” DOCG was made with grapes growing in a sandy, silty and clay vineyard from the Castelletto Cru in Monforte d’Alba. The grapes were hand harvested in mid-October after careful selection while on the vine. Fermentation and maceration took place in stainless steel, the wine was aged in French oak. The wine was made from organically grown grapes. The wine had a translucent garnet color with a red hue. Perfume and cherries were noted on the aroma as well as the taste. The wine was full bodied with bold tannins. Fruit and leather notes were on the finish.

My “best in show” wine was the 2016 Barolo Mosconi “Vigna Ped” DOCG. The Nebbiolo grapes were hand harvested from the Mosconi Cru in the village Monforte d’Alba. The organically grown grapes were fermented and macerated in stainless steel tanks and then aged in French oak. The wine had a translucent garnet color. Perfume and cherries were on the aroma and taste. The wine was full bodied with kissing tannins ( tannins that cause the mouth to pucker as if you were going to give someone a kiss). The finish was fruity with a delicate oak influence. I enjoy tannins in a wine and for me, the more tannic the better.

The 2016 Barolo Ginestra “Vigna del Gris” DOCG was made with grapes from the del Gris vineyard in the Ginestra Cru of the village Monforte d’Alba. As with the other Borolos tasted, the organically grown grapes were hand harvested and fermented and macerated in stainless steel. The wine was then aged in French oak. The wine had a translucent garnet color. Perfume and cherries were noted on the aroma. Cherries and leather were on the taste. The wine was full bodied and had bold tannins. The finish was fruity with an oak influence.

I was happy to have an introduction to the wines from Azienda Agricola Conterno Fantino and look forward to their availability in Maryland.

Cheers,
Terry