Conterno Fantino - Barolo Vigna del Gris 2017 ~ Piedmont, Italy

96/100 James Suckling
95/100 Falstaff
93/100 Robert Parker
91/100 Wine Spectator
Bronze - Wine Enthusiast

94/100 Falstaff (2016 vintage)
95/100 Wine Spectator (2016 vintage)
96/100 Wine & Spirits Magazine (2016 vintage)
96/100 Robert Parker (2016 vintage)
96/100 Wine & Spirits (2016 vintage)
95/100 James Suckling (2016 vintage)
95/100 Wine Spectator (2016 vintage)
93/100 Vinous (2016 vintage)
96/100 James Suckling (2015 vintage)
95/100 Robert Parker (2015 vintage)
94/100 Robert Parker (2013 vintage)
93/100 James Suckling (2013 vintage)
92/100 Wine Spectator (2013 vintage)
92/100 Wine & Spirits Magazine (2012 vintage)
94/100 Falastaff Magazin (2012 vintage)
92/100 Wine Enthusiast (2010 vintage)
93/100 Wine & Spirits Magazine (2011 vintage)
93/100 Wine Spectator (2011 vintage)

Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2011 vintage)

Organic

Kerin O’Keefe (Wine Enthusiast) – “Aromas of underbrush, camphor and cellar floor lead the nose. The assertive palate lacks fruit richness, offering sensations of incense, coconut, licorice and oak alongside extremely astringent tannins.”

James Suckling – “This is extremely perfumed with rose petal and orange zest to the ripe-strawberry and cherry character. Full and intense palate with layers of fruit and firm, dusty tannins. Chewy at the finish, but there’s plenty of fruit. Try after 2025.”

Robert Parker – “I always love the purity of aromas delivered in wine from this 1.8-hectare site with loose, well-draining soils in the celebrated Ginestra cru of Monforte d'Alba. The Conterno Fantino 2017 Barolo Ginestra Vigna del Gris boasts a slightly more delicate and finessed aromatic approach with tighter weaving and an almost fragile personality. However, the warm 2017 vintage conditions do their part to build up the concentrated power and fruit weight of this Barolo. I found this wine to be more reticent in terms of mouthfeel; however, that may be a reflection of my early tasting. I'd love to come back and visit this wine at the 10-year mark and later. This was a release of exactly 9,082 bottles.”

Organic wines are made from grapes grown without pesticides, following strict organic standards. Organic wines are produced in vineyards that do not use synthetic chemicals. Certified organic wines by CCPB in Italy.

Founded in 1982, Conterno Fantino testifies to the talent and vision of viticulturist Claudio Conterno and his partner, oenologist Guido Fantino. These great wines start in exceptional vineyard sites in Monforte d’Alba. Conterno Fantino’s historical nucleus is Ginestra, one of Monforte’s historical crus documented as far back as the 1800’s. is based on a hillside close to the village of Monforte d'Alba. The focus of the estate falls to four key grape varieties: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto and Chardonnay.

Barolo is a traditional hillside village in the rolling hills of Piedmont, northwestern Italy. The vineyards and wineries there have long been famous for producing some of Italy's very finest red wines – predominantly from the region's signature grape variety, Nebbiolo.

Nebbiolo is the grape variety behind the top-quality red wines of Piedmont, northwestern Italy, the most notable of which are Barolo and Barbaresco. Nebbiolo wines are distinguished by their strong tannins, high acidity and distinctive scent – often described as "tar and roses". They also tend to lose color. Within just a few years of vintage, most Nebbiolo wines begin fading from deep, violet-tinged ruby to a beautiful brick orange.