Conterno Fantino Barolo "Sori Ginestra" DOCG 2015 [3.0L MAGNUM]
(Piedmont, Italy) - [JS 97] [WA 96] [WS 95] [AG 94]

Notes from the Winemaker:

100% Nebbiolo from the historic Ginestra cru of Monforte d’Alba, one of the finest for Barolo, and 30-year-old vines, Guyot-trained. Soil is 27% sand, 51% silt and 22% clay, and surface under vine is 3 hectares, i.e. 7.4 acres. Gradient is 30%, exposure southern and altitude 360 meters (1,181 feet) above sea level. Crop yield is a mere 1.2 kilos per vine. Harvest is in mid-October (around Oct. 11th-20th). The wine is aged 2 years in French barriques, bottled around mid-July, and bottle-aged for a further year previous to release.

VINEYARD CHARACTARISTICS
Guyot-trained vines on the historical Ginestra cru in Monforte d'Alba; soil is 27% sand, 51% silt, 22% clay, surface 3 ha., ie 7.4 acres; age of vines 30 yrs old, 30% gradient. Exposure southern, altitude 360 meters asl, 1,181 ft, crops 1.2 kilos per vine

VINIFICATION AND AGING: Skin maceration for 7-10 days, ageing 2 yrs in French oak barriques, 1 yr in bottle.

TASTING NOTES
Deep garnet with ruby hues, rich, fruity and persistent bouquet of rose petals, brushwood and berries; full-bodied, luscious and austere on the palate

SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Best served at 20° C (68° F), decanting 2 hours beforehand and paired with red meat and game

ANALYSIS DATA
Alcohol cont. by volume: 14.5%; total acidity (in tartaric acid): 5.9 g/l; free acidity (in acetic acid): 0.78 g/l; residual sugar: 2.7 g/l; total dry extract: 33.2 g/l; pH: 3.4

Grapes: Nebbiolo (Lampia and Michet clones)
Longevity: Extremely long-living
Production: 16,000 bottles
Winemaker:Guido & Fabio Fantino

---

97 Points - James Suckling:
"This has a very impressive nose with ripe red cherries and plums, as well as abundant notes of sweet spice. The palate delivers a very assertive, plush and fleshy impression with a core of incredibly vibrant fruit that holds super fresh. The tannins are vibrant and the length is very impressive. Try from 2023. " - (7 Jan, 2019)

96 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"You'll find broader strokes and more heft in the 2015 Barolo Ginestra Vigna Sorì Ginestra than in the other crus from Conterno Fantino, along with extra levels of power and dimension. This vintage boasts lots of fiber and intensity, with dark fruit contrasting against spice, tar and tobacco. The wine shows more structure at the back, too, one of the important differences that makes this wine well suited to longer cellar aging. This is simply a complete Barolo with gorgeous texture, so fine and detailed, and it will hold up for years to come."

95 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Ample sweet plum, blackberry, black cherry, licorice, tar and underbrush aromas and flavors are accented by vanilla and toasty oak in this lively Barolo. Pure, verging on racy, with a light sinewy feel to the tannins. Complex, fresh and long. Best from 2024 through 2043."

94 Points - Antonio Galloni's Vinous:
"The 2015 Barolo Sori Ginestra shows why this site is so highly regarded. Soaring aromatics make a strong opening statement. Spice, menthol, licorice, macerated cherry, blood orange, leather and pine all fill out the wine's ample frame. Powerful, deep and layered, the Sorì Ginestra is a super-classic Conterno-Fantino Barolo. In this vintage, the tannins are especially polished, something that has not always been the case with young Sorìs." - Antonio Galloni (Feb 2019)