Conterno Fantino : Langhe Nebbiolo "Ginestrino" 2024

The elegance and minerality of a Piedmont wine

The estate

Founded in 1982 by Claudio Conterno and Guido Fantino, the Conterno Fantino estate has established itself as a benchmark of modern winemaking in Piedmont, Italy. Located in Monforte d'Alba, the estate spans 27 hectares and stands out for its early commitment to organic farming, certified since 2012. Today, Claudio Conterno oversees the vineyard while Guido Fantino supervises the winery, supported by Fabio, Alda, Elisa, Noemi and Matteo. The estate is renowned for its innovative approach combining respect for terroir with gentle winemaking techniques.

The vineyard

The grapes for this Langhe appellation wine come from plots located between 200 and 450 meters in altitude on the slopes of Monforte d'Alba. Planted between 1998 and 2007, these vines benefit from south, southeast and southwest exposures. The soils, composed of calcareous marl with veins of clay and sand, give the wine its precision. The vineyard is farmed organically with high planting density and exclusively hand-harvested grapes.

The vintage

The conditions of the 2024 growing season allowed for balanced phenolic ripeness. The harvest, which began in mid-October, benefited from weather favoring finesse over extreme extraction, resulting in berries with a lighter profile compared to previous years.

Winemaking and aging

After gentle destemming, the fermentation of this Langhe Nebbiolo "Ginestrino" 2024 begins spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in horizontal stainless steel tanks, with an eight-to-ten-day maceration. Aging then takes place over nine to ten months in second-passage French oak barrels.

Grape variety

Nebbiolo (100%).

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Langhe Nebbiolo "Ginestrino" 2024 from Conterno Fantino

Tasting notes

Color
A brilliant garnet red hue is enhanced by delicate ruby highlights.

Nose
The bouquet opens with elegant floral notes of violet and dried rose petals, mingled with touches of wild herbs. It then reveals aromas of red fruits such as cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry. With aeration, subtle mineral nuances of graphite, licorice and soft woody spices round out the ensemble.

Palate
The palate opens with a lovely freshness that highlights a structure of fine, perfectly integrated tannins. The mid-palate offers a harmonious balance between precise cherry and raspberry flavors, supported by a mineral backbone. The long, persistent finish lingers on notes of bitter almond and aromatic herbs.

Food and wine pairing

This Italian red wine pairs beautifully with roast lamb, meats braised in tomato sauce or a plate of pasta with ragù. It will also enhance cured meats, wild mushroom risottos as well as soft cheeses such as Fontina.

Service and storage

Approachable from today, this wine will continue to evolve favorably until around 2035. Its aging potential can extend to 2040 for those who favor more evolved profiles.