Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo "Bussia" DOCG 2018
(Piedmont, Italy) - [TWI 94] [JS 93] [WS 93]

About the Winery:
The "Poderi Aldo Conterno" winery is situated in Bussia of Monforte d'Alba which is the heart of the Barolo wine area. The estate, which vinifies exclusively its own grapes, consists of 25 hectares of vineyard. Most of the soil, which is at an altitude of 350 - 400 m. above the sea level, is located South / South - West and is composed of clayey marls and limestone with layers of sand. The yields per hectare are very low and the total production is about 80.000 bottles a year. The harvest begins in mid September and done exclusively by hand with a very careful selection of the picked grapes. Always following a strict family tradition, red wines are neither clarified nor filtered.

About this Wine:
Aldo Conterno’s Barolo Bussia is produced from five hectares of prime vineyards in Bussia Soprano, the original section of what has become a rather large vineyard in recent years. These five hectares are spread across three separate parcels with vines averaging 35-40 years old, with no vines younger than 20 years old.

Technical Information

SPECIES OF VINE: Nebbiolo, Michet and Lampia varieties.

VINEYARD: different vineyards, in Bussia Bussia (Monforte d'Alba).

HARVEST: manual, with grapes selection in the vineyard.

TIME OF HARVEST: mid-October.

VINIFICATION: red, with skin contact inside stainless steel vats.

VINIFICATION TIME: the must stays on contact with the skins for 20-30 days: during this time the alcoholic fermentation gets fully complete.

VINIFICATION TEMPERATURES: changeable, with highest peaks of 32 degrees centigrades.

CELLAR REFINING: The new wine is decanted several times before transfer to oak casks where it is aged and refined.

NOTES: the grapes used to make Barolo come from vineyards which are at least 15-20 years old.

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Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - The Wine Independent:
"The 2018 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia is a blend from different Bussia vineyards in Monforte d'Alba. It spent 20-30 days on the skins before being transfered to oak casks to mature. This wine begins to open up after 20 minutes. It is softly sweet, with some gentle red fruits and spice, melded together with gentle oak spice notes here and there. On the palate it is very round, soft, gentle and beautifully harmonious with a fine silky quality to the texture and a perfumed note. This wine has a lovely harmony and balance. 2024-2042." -Susan Hulme (7/13/22)

93 Points - James Suckling:
"Pleasant dried red berries, pressed flowers and some brazil nut on the nose. Medium-bodied with spicy fruit flavors. The tannins are more in the back seat this year and this gives the mid-palate quite an open-knit mouth-feel. Finishes a little tighter with good fruit and spice. Best after 2023." (Jan 2022)

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A ripe style, this reveals macerated plum, cherry, spice, hay, tobacco and mineral flavors. This has an elegant feel, despite the dense, refined tannins, with a lasting mouthwatering impression. Best from 2025 through 2042. 1,250 cases made, 720 cases imported." - BS (Dec 2022)