Barolo, DOCG, 2010, Serralunga d'Alba, Fontanafredda Winery, 14%, 500ml

Product detailed description

The color of the wine is ruby ​​red with garnet highlights. The aroma is clean, intense, with hints of vanilla, spices, dried rose. The taste is dry, full, velvety, harmonious and long-lasting. Perfect for pairing with  dishes based on red meat, cheese.

How was 2010? The 2010 vintage had  a particularly long and harsh winter that lasted until the beginning of March: quite unusual compared to previous years, but returning on average over a longer period of time.
Heavy snowfall ensured substantial water reserves in the soil and together with temperatures  contributed to excellent buds for  all the vineyards in the area in April and May. The beginning of the summer was characterized by a lot of rainfall, which was very heavy at times, with light local hailstones that could cause significant damage to production.
Mild temperatures at the beginning of August were lower than in previous years, indicating that the grapes are ripening later than in previous vintages, although fully in line with "historical" averages. An increase in daily temperatures was noted during the last ten days of August and September, with excellent differences between day and night temperatures contributing fundamentally to the characteristics of the grapes, especially in terms of polyphenols. This phenomenon was particularly noticeable in late-ripening varieties.

When it comes to grape health, 2010 is a tricky vintage. In the areas most affected by the rain in early June, producers had to take agronomic and other measures to avoid the risk of fungal attack. In conclusion, the vintage was very special from a climatic point of view and once again rewarded the "big vineyards" and areas where the selection of the variety was carried out very carefully, taking into account the location of the vineyards, the nature of the soil and the climatic variables that characterize the hills of Langa and Roero and make them completely unique on the world wine scene.  Nebbiolo  was able to enjoy nice weather throughout the month of September, compensating for a slight delay in grape ripening due to the wet weather between July and August. Ripening checks showed that sugars continued to accumulate during the second half of the month, while the acid content gradually decreased to very acceptable levels. The maturation of phenolic components, which are essential to ensure body capacity and aging, was excellent. 

Fermentation takes place according to the traditional method, at a controlled temperature of 30-31°C in stainless steel tanks for 15 days, with frequent pumping of the tank to optimize the release of polyphenols into the wine. Aging is 24 months in barrel and one year in bottle. Of this, one year in Allier barrique barrels and the following year in larger barrels with a volume of 2,000 - 3,000 liters. The wine is then bottled for further aging in the bottle for another 12 months.  Aging peaks after 8-10 years, but also varies over time

Barolo wine  is by definition a great Italian wine that is made exclusively from Nebbiolo grapes. Barolo wine comes from a village in the eponymous village of Langa, a few kilometers south of Alba. It is now produced in eleven "communes" or village territories, located in the picturesque hills of Langa shaped by centuries of vine cultivation and dominated by medieval castles - including Barolo itself. Thanks to the agricultural genius of Count Camillo Benso di Cavour (who was also Italy's first Prime Minister) and the intuition of Giulia Colbert Falletti, the last Marquis of Barolo, Barolo wine began to be produced around the middle of the 19th century. This wine, particularly rich and harmonious, has become the best ambassador of the Savoy Family, representing Piedmont at all the royal courts in Europe. Along with Barbaresco, Barolo saw the rise of many associations in its favor during the 20th century, starting with "Pro-Barolo" and culminating in the establishment of the Consorcio and the granting of DOC  and then DOCG status and finally, in 2005, the control plan for certification required by the European Union. These captivating qualities led the nobility of the 19th century to give it the title of “king of wines and wine of kings”. Barolo must be aged  for at least three years, one and a half of which must be in oak barrels. If the aging is extended for five years, the wine will receive the title of "Riserva". The vineyards for the Barolo DOCG area are  La Morra, Monforte, Serralunga d'Alba, Castiglione Falletto, Novello, Grinzane Cavour. Verduno, Diano d'Alba, Cherasco and Roddi. Color  the wine is full and intense garnet red and the aromas are fruity and spicy. Red berries, liquered cherries and jam are present in the nose and mouth, along with roses, faded violets, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, vanilla and occasionally licorice, cocoa, tobacco and leather. One of the last and most important Barolo researches was the gathering of the "cru list" or other geographical definitions and their inclusion in the disciplinary regulations in 2010.

Why do we like it? 

The wine will be appreciated by connoisseurs of archival wines and especially those specializing in Piedmontese wines.