Wine Advisor
Paolo Conterno, Barolo Ginestra Riserva 2008
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
The 2008 Barolo Riserva Ginestra has entered a fabulous moment in its drinking evolution. This is a dark and seductive expression of Nebbiolo with deep layering and sharply focused aromatic characteristics. The bouquet offers dried berry fruits with ash, smoke, tar and tangy licorice. The effect is delicate and subtle, thanks in part to the polished and carefully aged tannins.
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.
