Conterno Fantino "Vignota" Barbera d'Alba DOC 2022
(Piedmont, Italy)

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 - Robert Parker's WA (2021 v.):
The Conterno Fantino 2021 Barbera d'Alba Vignota (a certified organic wine) shows a lot of pulp, richness and texture that is woven with generous blackberry and dark fruit flavors. This wine offers a lot of natural intensity thanks to warm growing conditions and marl and limestone soils.

92 Points - James Suckling (2021 v.):
Attractive dried strawberries and dark cherries with crushed walnuts, dark spices and cocoa. Hints of forest floor, too. Medium- to full-bodied with very fine tannins and mellow texture. Refined, even and silky at the end. Try after 2026.

91 Points - Wine Spectator (2021 v.):
Lush and expressive, this red exhibits plum, black cherry, sweet spice and toasty oak aromas and flavors. Nicely integrated and supple in texture, with a warm, spicy lingering aftertaste.