80% Freisa, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot from Monforte d’Alba, Langhe, Piedmont, Italy.
SRP of $35, purchased for $19.99 but more typically available for around $25. Imported by Massanois Imports.
From the winery:
“Species of Vine: Freisa, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.
Vineyard: different vineyards in Bussia (Monforte d’Alba).
Harvest: manual, with grapes selection in the vineyard.
Time of Harvest: mid-October.
Vinification: red, with skin soaking inside stainless steel vats.
Vinification Time: the must stays on contact with the skins for 6 to 8 days and it is further drawn off wine; finally, the alcoholic Vinification gets fully complete.
Vinification Temperatures: from 26 to 28 degrees centigrades.
Cellar Refining: the new wine spends a few months inside stainless steel vats, it is transferred several times, and, consequently, it is poured onto barrels (“barriques”) where it remains for 12 months; finally, it will be bottled.
14.0% Alcohol”
Today’s wine, which hails from the same area as Barolo, comes from a grape that I have to admit I had never heard of before: Freisa (FRAY-zah). Once a well known grape in Piedmont, it has been overshadowed in recent times by Nebbiolo. It is most commonly seen today in the form of a slightly sweet sparkling wine, but can also be produced as a rich and tannic still wine with lots of acidity and that’s exactly what we have today.
The 2009 Poderi Aldo Conterno Langhe Rosso begins with a lovely aroma of deep, dark, ripe fruit plus violets, lavender, red licorice and a bit of smoke. Tasting the wine reveals tons of succulent sour cherry and other mouthwateringly tart berry fruit. There’s also a nice spicy earthy component that balances all the fruit perfectly. Add to that great acidity, a super smooth texture and good solid (but not overwhelming) tannins and you’ve got a seriously good wine. It ends dry with more rich and very tart fruit that hangs around in your mouth for days. Fantastic!
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 7.8
Like The Reverse Wine Snob on Facebook and add our page to your circles on Google+!
Maximizing your wine dollars since 2011! Independent wine consumer helping millions of people (1.6 million unique visitors in 2018 alone) find great grape without breaking the bank. If you're new to Reverse Wine Snob