96 point

Notes of red berries, crushed herbs and orange blossom with hints of lilac and wet stones. Medium- to full-bodied. Meaty and mouth-filling with polished tannins that are a little chewy at the end. Refined and sleek. Hints of bitter spices in the finish. Try after 2026.

95 point

95P+: Quite robust and powerful on first nose, the 2019 Barolo Ginestra Vigna del Gris needs more time in bottle to flesh out and move past this current youthful phase. This wine is definitely poised to give more to those who wait. It opens to a dark garnet hue and ripe aromas of cherry skin, plum, rose and orange peel. Within the span of a few minutes, it starts to show additional spice and nutmeg. The tannins are still grippy.

95 point

Offers attractive notes of cherry and raspberry, plus iron, tar and underbrush flavors wrapped in an embrace of toasty oak. Overall, this red is balanced and the fruit should emerge as all the elements integrate over the next decade or so. Long, resonant finish.

95P+: Luminous red. Aromas and flavours of vibrant raspberry and sour red cherry have a steely undertone and amesmerizing purity. Finishes long with mind-blowing clarity and cut. This will develop very slowly, so cellar it for another ten years or so prior to opening a bottle. Not the most approachable 2019 Barolo from Conterno Fantino currently, but will probably outlive them all and ultimately be the best wine of the bunch.

94 point

The 2019 Barolo Ginestra Vigna del Gris is another terrific wine from Conterno-Fantino. Crushed flowers, cedar, pipe tobacco, mint, dried flowers and worn-in leather give the 2019 striking aromatic presence. Here, too, Fabio Conterno has done a terrific job in taming the Monforte tannins. The Gris never has the completeness of the other crus, but in 2019 it is positively striking. I would drink this ahead of the other 2019s.