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The Vibrant Side of Fantino’s Cellar
The Vibrant Side of Fantino’s Cellar
by Tom Wolf by Tom Wolf
2019 Barbera d’Alba Superiore
2019 Barbera d’Alba Superiore
Fantino’s cellar
A. & G. Fantino Italy | Piedmont | Barbera d’Alba
Descend into the Fantino brothers’ humble cellar beneath the village of Monforte d’Alba and the first thing you notice are the large, vertical Slavonian oak barrels, where, for a minimum of four years, Nebbiolo takes its time developing into deep and complex Barolo.
At the other end of the cellar stand large stainless steel tanks in which Alessandro and Gian Natale age their more approachable and exuberant Barbera for a year and a half with the aim of preserving as much young charm, fragrant fruit, and bright acidity as possible.
Depending on the vintage, the Fantinos’ Barbera can show a stronger side of this grape variety with robust concentration and flavors, or a lither and more refined side. The 2019 rendition embodies the latter with its elegant and versatile profile and notes of cherries, cranberries, and blood orange that pair as perfectly with pizza as with Chris Lee’s risotto with figs and prosciutto.
Click here for Chris Lee’s recipe.
Fantino’s cellar
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2019 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Barbera |
Appellation: | Barbera d’Alba |
Country: | Italy |
Region: | Piedmont |
Producer: | A. & G. Fantino |
Vineyard: | Vines planted 1999-2002 |
Soil: | Gray marl, Clay |
Farming: | Sustainable |
Alcohol: | 13.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore
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November Club Chevalier ~ Elegant, lithe, and versatile, this Barbera is full of young charm, fragrant fruit, and bright, mouthwatering acidity.
2017 Barolo Bussia “Cascina Dardi”
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Ripe, deep, and almost extravagant in its breadth of aroma and flavor, while a dense, tightly knit core of firm acidity and fine-grained tannins make up a rigid spine.
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Already elegant, this Barolo shows astonishing poise and a different mesmerizing feature of its kaleidoscopic personality every time you take a sip.
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The Barolos of Serralunga are renowned for their power and longevity, and while Porro’s Gianetto is not the unyielding, tannic beast of old, it will certainly benefit from a few years in your cellar.
2017 Barolo Bussia Riserva “Cascina Dardi”
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Alessandro Fantino’s Riservas are as good as Barolo gets.
2021 Rosso dei Dardi
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Perfumed Nebbiolo fruit and tender tannins encourage pulling the cork just for the sake of quenching one’s thirst.
2015 Barolo Riserva “Cascina Dardi - Bussia”
Italy | Piedmont
The Fantino brothers’ Riservas are as good as Barolo gets.
NV Barolo Chinato
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A deliciously aromatized Barolo, fascinating and complex with a long, herbal finish.
2016 Laboro Disobedient
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A throwback to the legendary Barolos of old.
About The Producer
A. & G. Fantino
About The Region
Piedmont
Kermit’s love affair with the great reds of Piemonte dates back to the early days of his career: the very first container he imported from Italy, in fact, featured legendary 1971 and 1974 Barolos from Vietti and Aldo Conterno. Regular visits since then have seen our portfolio grow to now twelve Piemontesi estates, with a strong focus on the rolling hills of the Langhe.
Nebbiolo rules these majestic, vine-covered marl slopes, giving Italy’s most mystifyingly complex, nuanced, and age-worthy reds. When crafted via traditional production methods—long macerations and extensive aging in enormous oak botti—the powerful, yet incredibly refined Barolos and Barbarescos provide haunting aromatics of tar, raspberry, incense, tea, roses, and more. At times austere in their youth but well worth the wait, they pair beautifully with the hearty local cuisine starring veal in many forms, braised beef, pastas like tajarin and agnolotti, and of course, Alba’s famous white truffles.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Piemonte’s climate is continental, with baking hot summers and cold winters. Nebbiolo is only part of the story here: juicy, fruity Barberas and Dolcettos represent the bread and butter throughout the region, and other native grapes like Freisa, Croatina, and the white Arneis are also noteworthy. Value abounds in the Monferrato, while Alto Piemonte also has its share of thrills to provide.
Every corner of Piemonte is rich with tradition, especially when wine is concerned. It’s no wonder we have been singing the region’s praises for over forty years.
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2021 Barbera del Monferrato “Rosso Pietro”
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2020 Barbaresco “Vicenziana”
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2016 Barolo Bussia “Cascina Dardi”
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2017 Barolo Bussia “Cascina Dardi”
Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Italy | Piedmont
2022 Langhe Arneis
Cantine Elvio Tintero Italy | Piedmont
2021 Monferrato Rosso
Tenuta La Pergola Italy | Piedmont
2022 Langhe Nebbiolo
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2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore
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Where the newsletter started
Where the newsletter started
Every three or four months I would send my clients a cheaply made list of my inventory, but it began to dawn on me that business did not pick up afterwards. It occurred to me that my clientele might not know what Château Grillet is, either. One month in 1974 I had an especially esoteric collection of wines arriving, so I decided to put a short explanation about each wine into my price list, to try and let my clients know what to expect when they uncorked a bottle. The day after I mailed that brochure, people showed up at the shop, and that is how these little propaganda pieces for fine wine were born.—Kermit Lynch