2016 Poderi Aldo Conterno, Barolo, Bussia Romirasco

The dried flowers are so impressive on the nose here with lavender and lily, as well as raspberries and dried strawberries. Full-bodied, yet so tight and refined with fantastic precision and focus. Very reserved and tight now. Try after 2024.

Similar to the neighbouring Cicala vineyard, Romirasco is slightly less steep with a bit more sand and magnesium in the soil. Nevertheless, the predominantly limestone-rich clay ultimately gives a forceful, robust and heady expression. It is more immediately scented than the Cicala with winter mint, cedar, sage blossom and rosemary emerging persuasively from the glass. Sumptuous and mouth filling, dark fruits coat copious chewy tannins that will need a few years to relax their assertive dry grip. This sees three months longer in large Slavonian casks than the estate’s Cicala and Colonnello. Drinking Window 2024 - 2042
Tasted by Michaela Morris (at Vancouver, 09 Nov 2020)
Part of Barolo 2016 'MGA' late releases tasted

This Barolo shows pretty sharpness and focus thanks to its robust layers of mineral and forest fruit. The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2016 Barolo Bussia Romirasco is a layered wine with power and 15% alcohol that you do definitely notice. The wine is fleshy and rich with rum spice and dark fruit, balsam and some end notes of spice, sandalwood and leather. The finish is a little hot, but the wine is ready for 10 years or more of careful cellar aging. Roughly 6,000 bottles were made.

A cru at the top of the Bussia hill which forms 70% of Granbussia. Made in small quantities: just 5,600 of the 25,000 bottles allowed. Aldo Conterno made their full range of wines in 2016. Bright, mid crimson. There’s already some complexity on the nose with a hint of mint. Very sweet palate entry, strong mint on the palate and then tannin. Enough freshness and lots of tannin. Very promising and powerful. (JR)