Conterno Fantino : Barbera d'Alba "Vignota" 2024

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Barbera d'Alba "Vignota" 2024 Conterno Fantino

Tasting notes

Color
An intense ruby red hue emerges, set to evolve toward subtle garnet nuances as it ages in the bottle.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with dominant notes of black cherry and blackcurrant cream. It is further enriched by nuances of blackberry, cedar, well-integrated sweet spices, and dried violet, offering a profile that is both fruity and delicately herbaceous.

Palate
Medium-bodied, the palate seduces with its perfect balance between a lively, refreshing acidity typical of the grape variety and remarkably supple tannins. The mid-palate, round and dynamic, confirms the ripe cherry aromas perceived on the nose, leading to a persistent, elegant, and refined finish.

Food and wine pairing

This Italian red wine pairs beautifully with pork-based dishes, whether cured meats (pancetta, prosciutto) or fresh cuts. It also enhances roasted poultry, pasta dishes with meat or tomato sauce, as well as rich seafood such as octopus. Meats with pronounced flavors, such as duck or feathered game, also make excellent choices.

Service and storage

Approachable and appealing from its youth, this 2024 vintage also possesses the acidity and structure needed to evolve favorably in the cellar for several years, gaining further complexity.

The fruity and elegant expression of a great Piedmont wine

The estate

Founded in 1982 through the union of Claudio Conterno and Guido Fantino, Conterno Fantino has established itself as an essential modernist figure in Piedmont. Located in the heart of Monforte d'Alba, the 27-hectare estate is now run by the two founding families, with Noemi and Matteo Conterno, as well as Elisa and Fabio Fantino, the latter serving as winemaker. A pioneer of organic viticulture and equipped with state-of-the-art eco-friendly infrastructure, the estate crafts wines that combine respect for terroir with contemporary techniques.

The vineyard

The grapes for this Barbera d'Alba come from several historic plots located in the commune of Monforte d'Alba, including the crus Ginestra, Bussia Sottana, Mosconi, Pajana, and Ornati. Rising to between 300 and 400 meters in altitude, these vines, planted between 1980 and 1998, benefit from southeast and southwest exposures. They flourish on the famous "terre bianche," marl soils composed mainly of silt, sand, and calcium carbonate, cultivated according to the strict principles of organic farming.

The vintage

The growing season provided optimal ripening conditions. The end of summer and the beginning of autumn allowed the berries to reach an ideal balance, promoting excellent sugar accumulation while preserving acidic freshness and ensuring perfect phenolic maturity.

Winemaking and aging

Hand-harvested grapes in small crates precede a spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts. Maceration and alcoholic fermentation take place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation then occurs in wood. Aging continues for about 10 months in second-fill French oak barrels, followed by a final refinement in stainless steel tanks to stabilize the wine before bottling.

Grape variety

Barbera (100%)