Varietal Barbera from one of Piedmont’s best? You bet! Regarded as Piedmont’s greatest producer of Barolo, Giacomo Conterno founded the estate in the early 20th century, producing world class Nebbiolo from 16 hectares in Serralunga d’Alba. Although known for their powerhouse Barolos, this approachable red is perfect for those looking to snag a taste of Conterno at a much more accessible price.
While Barbera is fruitier and less tannic than Nebbiolo and is known for being Piedmont’s “everyday” wine, this is nevertheless a Conterno bottle, driven less by its sweet fruit than its soil-driven brawn and 20 months in oak. The 2020 ‘Francia’ Barbera is full of ripe red fruit and bramble flavors, noted with earth spice, crushed rock, and a strong mineral presence. Notes of chewy black cherries, fresh herbs, and leathery undertones dominate this aromatic bottle.
Structured, and acid-driven, this wine seriously overdelivers for the price and is a solid example of one of Piedmont’s finest!