Wine Advisor
Paolo Conterno, Barolo Ginestra 2009
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
The 2009 Barolo Ginestra is a beautiful expression of Nebbiolo. This is a strong showing from the producer’s flagship vineyard. The aromatic tension and energy delivered reminds you that this is a young wine that needs more time to unwind and relax. But all the essentials are there: Licorice, tar, dried fruit, tobacco and a pretty addition of crushed spice or cardamom. The mouthfeel is finely chiseled and sharp with tight, young tannins at the back. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2030. A Marc de Grazia Selection with various American importers, including: Marc de Grazia Imports; tel. (417) 732-4200; Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300; Estate Wines Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411; Robert Houde Wines, Elk Grove Village, IL; tel. (847) 430-3887
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2009 Barolo Ginestra is absolutely beautiful. An exotic bouquet laced with mint, pine, orange rind, leather and roasted coffee beans melds into a core of Ginestra fruit in a wine that captures the very best qualities of the year. The 2009 is rich, deep and resonant, but the tannins are also fairly approachable for a young Barolo. I don't imagine the 2009 will be a long-term ager, but it will drink beautifully for another decade or so. Proprietor Giorgio Conterno and his team have done a terrific job here.
About the Producer
Paolo Conterno founded Casa della Ginestra in 1886, not long after the birth of Barolo as we know it. He was one of the very first growers in the Langhe to sell barrels of wine directly to consumers from the cellar, eschewing the well-established négociants of the time. He developed a loyal following of connoisseurs demanding his wines, and the independent estate has prospered over now five generations. Today Giorgio Conterno is at the helm of winery, which produces brilliant, classically styled expressions from the Ginestra cru, renown for wines with dark colors, brooding tannins and incredible aromatics—hallmarks of its dense, clay-heavy Helvetian soil and relatively high elevation. The estate’s style is rooted in tradition: extended macerations and long aging in large casks, with the resulting wines perfectly reflecting Ginestra’s excellence: laser pure perfumes, great balance, approachability and long potential for aging.