Monpra Langhe Rosso - Conterno Fantino - 2018

75 cl

Robert Parker: 93 points

Alcohol content: 15% vol.

Grape varieties: 50% Nebbiolo, 50% Barbera

Vinification:

Monpra is a blend of the two Piedmontese grape varieties Nebbiolo and Barbera. It undergoes alcoholic fermentation for 6-8 days and matures in barriques for 18 months. After a further 6 months of ageing in the bottle, the wine is released for sale.

Tasting note:

This production of around 8,900 bottles is a blend of equal parts Barbera and Nebbiolo from the Ginestra and Bussia crus. The Conterno Fantino 2018 Langhe Rosso Monprà opens rich and dark with powerful cherry and blackberry flavours that fade into spice, roasted hazelnuts, tobacco and baking chocolate. On the palate, the wine expands smoothly, with rich texture and lingering determination. It finishes with sweet fruit flavours and medium length. Especially considering its alcohol content of 15 %, you should uncork this beauty together with a hearty Cassoeula magra di manzo, a heavy beef and vegetable casserole from northern Italy.

Conterno Fantio:

The successful winery is located above the town of Monforte d'Alba, in the province of Cuneo. From there you can enjoy an outstanding view of the panorama of the Italian Eastern Alps. The ultra-modern cellar is characterised by extremely low energy consumption and the constant search for optimisation: Steps that the two business partners have pursued for years against all criticism. The impressive winery is powered exclusively by renewable energy and the vines are cultivated sustainably.

Today, four grape varieties are cultivated on 27 hectares of vineyards at different altitudes: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto and Chardonnay. The vines have been cultivated organically since 2012. In the eyes of the two founders, the careful manual selection of the grapes and the preservation of the typical characteristics of the varieties are decisive factors for a high level of quality. While Claudio Conterno is responsible for the work in the vineyard, Guido Fantino - former cellar master at Prunotto - is in charge of the cellar.