Conterno Fantino Barbera d'Alba "Vignota" DOC 2022
(Piedmont, Italy) - [WA 93] [JS 93]

About this wine:

100% Barbera. The vineyard is located in Monforte d'Alba, planted 1980 - 1998 with a South-East, South-West exposure on limestone and marl soils. Altitude ranges from 200 to 400 meters above sea level with a 20% to 35% vineyard slope. Vines are Guyot trained with a density of 5.000/5.500 vines per ha. First harvest was 1985.

Grapes are selected and picked by hand at the end of September - beginning of October. Average production is 7-8 t/ha - 49-56 hi/ha. Alcoholic fermentation and maceration takes place in stainless steel horizontal fermenters for 8-10 days. Aged in French oak barrels. Approximately 30,000-35,000 bottles are produced each vintage. 

This wine is made from organically grown grapes certified by CCPB srl - Bologna 

VINEYARD CHARACTARISTICS
Ginestra, Pajana, Mosconi, Bussia Sottana & Ornati vyards, partly old; total 6.5 ha., 16 acres, on the finest hillsides, particularly windy hilltops & marly-calcareous soil w/high percentages of sand & silt; c. 1,150 ft average altitude, S, E, SW exposure

SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Particularly suited to first courses, pasta, risotto, as well as meat dishes and cheese. The grower suggests pairing this Barbera with a typical Piedmontese dish called bagna caoda, consisting in raw vegetables, especially bell peppers, with an anchovy an

ANALYSIS DATA
Alcohol cont. by volume: 14.5%; total acidity (in tartaric acid): 6.4 g/l; free acidity (in acetic acid): 0.7 g/l; residual sugar: 1.5 g/l; total dry extract: 32.8 g/l; pH: 3.35

Grapes: Barbera
Longevity: Very cellar-worthy
Winemaker: Guido & Fabio Fantino

93 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2022 Barbera d'Alba Vignota is a lovely expression with elegant fruit, dried blueberry, blackcurrant and a dusty mineral note that frames it all with neat and delineated lines. It displays medium fruit weight and a high 15% alcohol content that is absorbed by the wine's thick texture. That said, this is by no means a heavy wine. Production is 35,000 bottles." - Monica Larner (Apr 2024)

93 Points - James Suckling:
"A red with ripe berries, strawberries and hints of orange peel. Medium- to full-bodied with juicy tannins. Round and slightly crunchy. Drink now." (July 2024)