Fontanafredda – Serralunga d’Alba Barolo – 2018

100% Nebbiolo

The fermentation is traditional: medium-long (15 days) in stainless steel vats with a floating cap at a controlled temperature (30-31 °C). The must then stays in contact with the skins for further 15 days to optimize the extraction of the polyphenolic substances and help start the subsequent malolactic fermentation.

One year in barriques from Allier and one year in oak casks still from Allier (2.000 lt). After a soft clarification, the wine is bottled for a further period of maturation in the bottle, the length depends from the characteristics of the vintages, but never less than 12 months.

The colour is garnet-red with ruby highlights that take on a slightly orange tone over time. It has a clear-cut, intense nose with overtones of vanilla, spices, withered roses and underbrush. The taste is dry, but soft, full-bodied, velvety and well balanced, and is very long-lasting.

Ideal with big red meat dishes and medium or mature cheeses, it can also make for pleasant after-dinner company.

Wine Enthusiast – 92

Brand

Fontanafredda

The history of Fontanafredda is a noble one. It began in 1858 after the unification of Italy, when the country’s first king, Vittorio Emanuele II, purchased this beautiful estate in Piedmont’s Langhe region. Here he started producing wine from native varietals, Dolcetto, Barbera and Nebbiolo, which later developed into a commercial business under the direction of the King’s son, Count Mirafiori. Fontanafredda released their first Nebbiolo labeled as Barolo with the 1878 vintage. The estate enjoyed incredible prosperity until just after the turn of the century, but the proceeding Phylloxera plague, the Great Depression and the World Wars took their toll on the business and the property was sold to Italy’s oldest bank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena. Decades later in 2008, visionary businessman and Piedmont native, Oscar Farinetti, purchases a majority stake of the Fontanafredda estate and wineries, bringing new life into one of Italy’s most heralded properties.