2018 Barolo Ginestra Vigna Sori Ginestra Conterno Fantino

Ginestra is a large and beautiful growing site in Monforte d'Alba that gets the morning light and enjoys panoramic views facing the castle of Serralunga d'Alba. The Conterno Fantino 2018 Barolo Ginestra Vigna Sorì Ginestra is always one of my top picks from this beautiful corner of the appellation. This Barolo is ample and generous, yet it hits the palate with precision and focused sharpness. The bouquet offers wild berry, cassis, rose, menthol, earth and crushed aniseed. This is an impressive and age-worthy wine. 11,784 bottles were released. 2024 - 2045

Super-round, rich and focused with plenty of bright berries, together with spicy and fresh, citrus-rind notes. There’s a silky underlay of loamy mineral that serves as a base for this full-bodied Barolo with fine-grained, well-poised tannins that carry the fruit and spice through the long, long finish. Creamy mineral aftertaste. Nothing overstated, just really intricate and well-defined. Great to taste now, but we will need to wait until at least 2025 for this to show its best.

The 2018 Conterno Fantino Barolo Sori Ginestra has smoke, dark berried fruit, hints of tar, forest floor, green peppercorn, and peppery spice notes. It has a very gentle, silky start on the palate with a lovely texture and weight and very long, savory, silty-textured tannins on the finish. The fine-grained, dry, salty tannins are backed up by bright acidity. There is a tension and energy to this wine and good concentration. A clean, energetic and focused wine, traditional in style with a modern twist.

The 2018 Barolo Ginestra Vigna Sorì Ginestra is a dark, brooding wine. There is plenty of the balsamic character that is typical of Ginestra. Broad tannins wrap around the wine's natural breadth, but are nicely integrated. Black cherry, gravel, spice, menthol and licorice all build over time, filling out the layers effortlessly. Readers will find a dark, brooding Barolo of real substance and power, with the context of the year.