Paolo Conterno, Barolo Ginestra 2012

Harvest is picking by hand in the first ten days of October. The grapes are carefully selected to make a wine with great structure and longevity. Immediately after picking they are crushed and destemmed, followed by maceration for 18-25 days in special tanks to gradually extract the noble components in the skins. When the ideal rapport has been reached between the extracted tannins and colour, the wine is drawn off and the first rackings are carried out.

Founded by Paolo Conterno in 1886, it was Paolo’s son Carlo who started to bottle the estate’s own production in small quantities. Today the estate, spanning 10 ha which are mainly centred around the fabulous Ginestra Cru of Monforte, is managed by the fourth generation of Conternos, Giorgio and Marisa. The Baroli are aged in large 35hl French oak barrels for at least 3 years followed by a further 6-12 months in bottle, whilst the Baroli Riserva is aged for 4 year in barrel and 12 months in bottle. Thanks to Giorgio and Marisa the plaudits have been streaming in of late. They seem to have an extraordinary ability to take the stout, mineral and sturdy form Monforte Baroli so often have and craft them in to something very polished without loss of character. This has now become an exciting Barolo estate well worth following.