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Wine Tasting Adventure

2013 Poderi Aldo Conterno, Barolo `Granbussia` - Liberty

£635.99 GBP
£635.99 GBP

Poderi Aldo Conterno is one of the most respected names in Italian wine, with their namesake founder described by Jancis Robinson as “one of Barolo's most emblematic characters”. Particularly famed for their single-vineyard Barolos, the wines of Poderi Aldo Conterno are widely regarded to be among the finest examples of Nebbiolo made today. Over the years, production has been deliberately reduced to increase quality. From the same 25 hectares of 60-year-old vines in Piemonte, the Conterno family now produce 80,000 bottles rather than the 180,000 made in 1998. This intensity shines through in the wines, which are defined by their signature elegance.

The Conterno family has made wine in Monforte d’Alba since at least the 1700s. Aldo’s grandfather, Giovanni Conterno, founded his own winery in 1908, later run by his son Giacomo. After a stint in the USA during the 1950s, Aldo worked with his older brother Giovanni in the family winery before deciding to strike out on his own in 1969. Aldo’s three sons now run Poderi Aldo Conterno, with Stefano making the wines while Franco and Giacomo manage the business.

The Chardonnay ‘Bussiador’ is perfectly balanced and elegant, with texture and acidity underpinning the refined and intense character of the wine. The Barbera ‘Conca Tre Pile’ is elegant yet rich with a classic Barbera zip on the finish. The grapes for Langhe Nebbiolo ‘Il Favot’ hail from vineyards no more than 20 years old. The wine has a fresh, lively fruit character with elegant, lifted aromas. The ‘Bussia’ is a blend of younger vines (25 - 30 years old) hailing from Conterno's three plots: Cicala, Romirasco and Colonnello. The wine has a fine nose which shows floral and herbaceous notes with subtle red fruits. The elegance of the ‘Colonnello’, scented with a silky texture and lovely mineral finish, contrasts with the more structured ‘Cicala’, which stands out with a length and grainy tannin structure that few wines can match. The ‘Romirasco’ is perfumed, intense, ripe and mineral with great length and superb tannins. The Romirasco vineyard, planted on the highest point of the hill of Bussia, provides 70% of the Barolo ‘Granbussia’ fruit, giving the wine aromatic intensity, length and balance.

Conterno have 25 hectares of vineyards in the Barolo area. Barolo Granbussia is made from the oldest vines of Conterno's three best vineyard sites, all of which are situated on the hill of Bussia - Vigna Romirasco (70%), Vigna Cicala (15%) and Vigna Colonello (15%). This wine is produced exclusively in the best years and in limited quantities

The 2013 vintage is notable for its late harvest, starting about 15 days later than usual and concluding in early November. A cool spring delayed the vine’s growth cycle, with low temperatures in March and April, followed by heavy rainfall in late April and May (averaging 210 mm over 18 days). This created challenges for growers, who had to actively manage fungal diseases; however, those who acted swiftly were able to limit damage. Weather conditions stabilized in June and July, allowing normal flowering and fruit set, and the moderate summer temperatures preserved high acid levels, giving the grapes potential for fresh, fragrant wines. Nebbiolo especially benefited from warm, sunny days and cool nights in September and October, achieving full phenolic ripeness ideal for age-worthy wines.

The grapes from the three vineyards which make up Granbussia were co-fermented in large Slavonian oak casks. The must remained on the skins for 60 days until fermentation was complete. Temperatures vary during fermentation but do not exceed 32°C. Ageing took place for 32 months in large Slavonian oak casks. At this point, the wine was put back into stainless steel tanks for a further one to two years before bottling. It remained in bottle until its release nine years after harvest.

Rich garnet in colour showing some development at the rim. The wine is rich and perfumed, with hints of liquorice, roses and truffles on the nose. On the palate, it is intense and full-bodied, with a perfect balance of tannin, acid and richness. The wine finishes long, with structure that suggests a long life ahead.