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The Vibrant Side of Fantino’s Cellar
The Vibrant Side of Fantino’s Cellar
by Tom Wolf by Tom Wolf
2019 Barbera d’Alba Superiore
2019 Barbera d’Alba Superiore
Fantino’s cellar
A. & G. Fantino Italy | Piedmont | Barbera d’Alba
Descend into the Fantino brothers’ humble cellar beneath the village of Monforte d’Alba and the first thing you notice are the large, vertical Slavonian oak barrels, where, for a minimum of four years, Nebbiolo takes its time developing into deep and complex Barolo.
At the other end of the cellar stand large stainless steel tanks in which Alessandro and Gian Natale age their more approachable and exuberant Barbera for a year and a half with the aim of preserving as much young charm, fragrant fruit, and bright acidity as possible.
Depending on the vintage, the Fantinos’ Barbera can show a stronger side of this grape variety with robust concentration and flavors, or a lither and more refined side. The 2019 rendition embodies the latter with its elegant and versatile profile and notes of cherries, cranberries, and blood orange that pair as perfectly with pizza as with Chris Lee’s risotto with figs and prosciutto.
Click here for Chris Lee’s recipe.
Fantino’s cellar
| Wine Type: | red |
| Vintage: | 2019 |
| Bottle Size: | 750mL |
| Blend: | Barbera |
| Appellation: | Barbera d’Alba |
| Country: | Italy |
| Region: | Piedmont |
| Producer: | A. & G. Fantino |
| Vineyard: | Vines planted 1999-2002 |
| Soil: | Gray marl, Clay |
| Farming: | Sustainable |
| Alcohol: | 13.5% |
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About The Producer
A. & G. Fantino
About The Region
Piedmont
Kermit’s love affair with the great reds of Piemonte dates back to the early days of his career: the very first container he imported from Italy, in fact, featured legendary 1971 and 1974 Barolos from Vietti and Aldo Conterno. Regular visits since then have seen our portfolio grow to now twelve Piemontesi estates, with a strong focus on the rolling hills of the Langhe.
Nebbiolo rules these majestic, vine-covered marl slopes, giving Italy’s most mystifyingly complex, nuanced, and age-worthy reds. When crafted via traditional production methods—long macerations and extensive aging in enormous oak botti—the powerful, yet incredibly refined Barolos and Barbarescos provide haunting aromatics of tar, raspberry, incense, tea, roses, and more. At times austere in their youth but well worth the wait, they pair beautifully with the hearty local cuisine starring veal in many forms, braised beef, pastas like tajarin and agnolotti, and of course, Alba’s famous white truffles.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Piemonte’s climate is continental, with baking hot summers and cold winters. Nebbiolo is only part of the story here: juicy, fruity Barberas and Dolcettos represent the bread and butter throughout the region, and other native grapes like Freisa, Croatina, and the white Arneis are also noteworthy. Value abounds in the Monferrato, while Alto Piemonte also has its share of thrills to provide.
Every corner of Piemonte is rich with tradition, especially when wine is concerned. It’s no wonder we have been singing the region’s praises for over forty years.
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Sampler Includes:
2020 Barbera del Monferrato “Perlydia” • Cantine Valpane $23.00
2023 Barbera d’Alba Superiore • A. & G. Fantino $26.00
2024 Barbera d’Alba “Vigna Santa Caterina” • Guido Porro $28.00
* Includes 2 bottles of each Barbera
Normally $0.00
SPECIAL SAMPLER PRICE $123.00
(a 20% discount)
2017 Laboro Disobedient
A. & G. Fantino Italy | Piedmont
2023 Langhe Freisa “alla mia Gioia”
Piero Benevelli Italy | Piedmont
2024 Moscato d’Asti “Sorì Gramella”
Tintero Italy | Piedmont
2022 Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba “Sörì Cristina”
Il Palazzotto Italy | Piedmont
2024 Langhe Arneis
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2024 Monferrato Rosso
Tenuta La Pergola Italy | Piedmont
2022 Barbaresco “Vicenziana”
Silvio Giamello Italy | Piedmont
2024 Roero Arneis
Tenuta La Pergola Italy | Piedmont
2023 Erbaluce di Caluso “Le Chiusure”
Cantina Favaro Italy | Piedmont
2023 Langhe Nebbiolo
Tintero Italy | Piedmont
2021 Barolo “Vigna Santa Caterina”
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont
Goldilocks and the Three Barberas
If you want to delve into a variety of expressions of Piemonte’s most extroverted grape, there is no better place to start than here. Sampler includes 2 bottles of each wine, at a 20% discount.
2017 Laboro Disobedient
A. & G. Fantino Italy | Piedmont
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
For the wines that I buy I insist that the winemaker leave them whole, intact. I go into the cellars now and select specific barrels or cuvées, and I request that they be bottled without stripping them with filters or other devices. This means that many of our wines will arrive with a smudge of sediment and will throw a more important deposit as time goes by, It also means the wine will taste better.