Acclaim

“A traditional amaro made with arugula leaves, citrus, roots and spices, this inky-dark liqueur has a slightly viscous palate that balances sweet, bitter and spiced notes, showing hints of espresso and bitter chocolate. Drink as a digestivo or pair with coffee.” -Kara Newman, Wine Enthusiast, Oct. 1, 2018

“Although this is a cooler, less Barbera-friendly vintage compared to the lavish 2015 edition, the 2016 Barbera d’Alba Vignota pulls off a lot of the same magic. This wine is generous and forthcoming with dark fruit stacked wide and tall. The grapes are harvested from five separate vineyard sites. Each is vinified separately and blended only after the malolactic fermentations are finished. Bouquet highlights include salty mineral notes that make a perfect pairing partner to fatty foods like deviled eggs or bite-sized sandwiches with mayonnaise. The alcohol is high at 15%, but it also serves to keep the palate stripped clean.” – Monica Larner, WIne Advocate, Sept. 30, 2018

“This is the second vintage this wine was made. The 2014 Barolo Castelletto Vigna Pressenda sees fruit from a 1.3-hectare parcel (with sandy soils) that was planted in 1986. Among the various Barolo wines produced by Conterno Fantino in 2014, this is the leanest and the most accessible. The bouquet is fragrant, balanced and bright with wild berries, spice, tar and red rose. This Barolo offers great intensity and volume that makes it almost ready to drink.” – Monica Larner, WIne Advocate, Sept. 30, 2018

“The 2014 Barolo Ginestra Vigna Sorì Ginestra is an amped up expression of Nebbiolo with excellent structure and lasting intensity. I am told that this vineyard site performs best in the cool vintages such as 2014. The wine plays its best cards in the mouth, thanks to the structure and the grounded firmness on offer here. Fabio Fantino tells me: “You can drive a car in the sunshine, in the rain and in the fog.” I just love this quote because it so perfectly sums up the difficult 2014 vintage. As long as the driver knows where he or she is headed, the outside conditions can be navigated nevertheless.” – Monica Larner, WIne Advocate, Sept. 30, 2018

“The 2014 Barolo Ginestra Vigna del Gris is a generous and expressive wine that puts forth fleshy dark fruit, red rose and dried lavender. In fact, those floral notes are the wine’s lasting signature, as they are very pronounced in this cooler vintage. Spice, leather and campfire ash follow in close proximity. The best part is the finale that offers crunch, snap and sparkle.” – Monica Larner, WIne Advocate, Sept. 30, 2018

“The 2012 Barolo Ginestra Vigna del Gris is a warm-climate Barolo that offers dark fruit, spice, licorice and cherry cola in generous supply. The wine is very generous in terms of mouthfeel, thanks to its volume and the fruity succulence it offers with such abundance in this warm vintage.” – Monica Larner, WIne Advocate, Sept. 30, 2018

“This wine was already in bottle when I tasted it but not yet released. The 2015 Barolo Mosconi Vigna Ped is an extremely exuberant and fruit-forward expression that absorbs the heat and the cheerful nature of this sunny vintage. The finish offers the three S’s in abundant supply: It is smooth, structured and succulent.” – Monica Larner, WIne Advocate, Sept. 30, 2018

“Compared to the 2015 vintage that is totally focused on the primary fruit, the 2014 Barolo Mosconi Vigna Ped is a much drier expression with aromas of garden herb, eucalyptus, dried mint and medicinal herb. The wine shows abundant strength and power at this young age, but I’m not sure where its aging trajectory will take it given the lack of sweet fruit to carry it forward. Those dry tannins lead me to think this wine should be consumed within the next 10-20 years.” – Monica Larner, WIne Advocate, Sept. 30, 2018

“The Conterno Fantino 2012 Barolo Mosconi is a classic expression of Barolo with tight lines, elegantly complex aromas, balanced acidity, firm tannins and long persistence. The wine offers everything you should expect of Barolo in the context of a warm vintage. The mouthfeel is fleshy, succulent and rich.” – Monica Larner, WIne Advocate, Sept. 30, 2018

“The folks at Conterno Fantino do a great job with their high-end wines, like Barolo, but they are equally committed to their lower-end wines, such as this Dolcetto. The 2017 Dolcetto d’Alba Bricco Bastia comes from vines planted at 500 meters above sea level. That high altitude is precisely what balances out the extreme ripeness produced in this very hot and dry vintage. Dolcetto does very well in the hot years, but this expression shows more precision and focus than you get from vines planted at lower elevations. Aromas include black cherry and freshly milled white peppercorn.” – Monica Larner, WIne Advocate, Sept. 30, 2018