2016 Barolo Mosconi Vigna Ped Conterno Fantino

The 2016 Barolo Mosconi Vigna Ped is another gorgeous wine in this range. The natural richness of Mosconi comes through loud and clear, but unlike most wines made from this site, Conterno-Fantino's 2015 is wonderfully polished and refined from start to finish. Ripe red and purplish berry fruit, wild flowers, licorice, mint and lavender build as this super-expressive, inviting Barolo shows off its alluring personality. The 2016 is just so phenomenally delicious.

The Conterno Fantino 2016 Barolo Mosconi Vigna Ped shows beautiful richness and precision with abundant fruit, tar, smoke and black licorice. The wine is generous and exuberant in a manner that only Nebbiolo can be. In other words, it offers a big personality on a svelte and slender frame. Maceration times are short, lasting from 12 to 15 days, and the wine ages in barrique for 24 months. The fruit comes from a small site measuring slightly less than a hectare in Monforte d'Alba at a moderately high, cool altitude (at 360 to 380 meters above sea level). The opulence and softness of the winemaking is beautifully balanced against the precision and sharpness that is inherent to this vineyard site. Production is 6,200 bottles.

Rich and almost sumptuous, this red offers cherry, plum, iron, eucalyptus, leather and tobacco flavors that reveal a spicy edge. The strict tannins impart a beefy quality, but there is ample fruit and terrific length. Best from 2023 through 2047.