Fontanafredda
Barolo Nebbiolo
Barolo, Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy
Poured into a decanter immediately prior to service. Not only was this 43 year old willing, it was positively singing right out of the gates! The 1981 Fontanafredda Barolo (classico) shows good color: a deep garnet with a transparent core and significant rim variation; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. There is some light sediment but most was decanted off. On the nose, the wine is vinous with gorgeous notes of ripe and desiccated dark cherries, pomegranate, old leather-bound books, truffle, earth and exotic spices. On the palate the wine is dry. The tannins are integrated but still pretty firm and acid is medium+. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is long and savory. Wow, what a remarkable bottle of Fontanafredda; arguably the best I’ve had. Perhaps I’ve aged as well? One would certainly hope. If you are also 43 years old or holding onto any of these 81’s from Fontanafredda, drink now. However, if this bottle is representative of well cellared examples, it could easily drink well through 2031.
Poured into a decanter immediately prior to service. Not only was this 43 year old willing, it was positively singing right out of the gates! The 1981 Fontanafredda Barolo (classico) shows good color: a deep garnet with a transparent core and significant rim variation; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. There is some light sediment but most was decanted off. On the nose, the wine is vinous with gorgeous notes of ripe and desiccated dark cherries, pomegranate, old leather-bound books, truffle, earth and exotic spices. On the palate the wine is dry. The tannins are integrated but still pretty firm and acid is medium+. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is long and savory. Wow, what a remarkable bottle of Fontanafredda; arguably the best I’ve had. Perhaps I’ve aged as well? One would certainly hope. If you are also 43 years old or holding onto any of these 81’s from Fontanafredda, drink now. However, if this bottle is representative of well cellared examples, it could easily drink well through 2031.
May 17th, 2024
This one missed the mark for me. Tart red fruit, blackcurrant, leather, and gamey palette. Length was shorter than expected. Unstructured tannins.
This one missed the mark for me. Tart red fruit, blackcurrant, leather, and gamey palette. Length was shorter than expected. Unstructured tannins.
Jun 13th, 2022
Transparent shiny rooftop red. Rozes in the nose, chocolate and cherries on the palette. Tannine is still there but smooth with a bit of acid to keep it fresh.
Transparent shiny rooftop red. Rozes in the nose, chocolate and cherries on the palette. Tannine is still there but smooth with a bit of acid to keep it fresh.
Aug 7th, 2021
Very pretty. Sweet strawberry, raspberry. Roses and a hint of pine needles. Really gorgeous, long and pretty. A great bottle.
Very pretty. Sweet strawberry, raspberry. Roses and a hint of pine needles. Really gorgeous, long and pretty. A great bottle.
Feb 28th, 2021
Vintage 2016 | This is a wine I got the urge to smell... and smell. It is a very rich smell, multi layered and rich. Very high in bitters, lots of character.
Vintage 2016 | This is a wine I got the urge to smell... and smell. It is a very rich smell, multi layered and rich. Very high in bitters, lots of character.
Sep 8th, 2020Soft fruit, tobacco, tar. Some licorice and vegetal notes. Very pure and quite intense. In good shape but not a heartbreaking bottle. Good stuff given its age.
Soft fruit, tobacco, tar. Some licorice and vegetal notes. Very pure and quite intense. In good shape but not a heartbreaking bottle. Good stuff given its age.
Feb 12th, 2020
Delicious Barolo. Outstanding, well balanced fruit and acidity. Could drink this all day long. Great pairing with our Italian lunch.
Delicious Barolo. Outstanding, well balanced fruit and acidity. Could drink this all day long. Great pairing with our Italian lunch.
Dec 12th, 2019Still showing potential. Fruit clearly showing, tanine getting milder. Leather, mocca. Still a few to go, so more pleasure in the future.
Still showing potential. Fruit clearly showing, tanine getting milder. Leather, mocca. Still a few to go, so more pleasure in the future.
Oct 20th, 2019
Pop and pour delicious! This place awesome!
Pop and pour delicious! This place awesome!
Sep 6th, 2019
Good Barolo. Hard to go wrong with this grape. But considering it’s a 2010, I had higher expectations.
Good Barolo. Hard to go wrong with this grape. But considering it’s a 2010, I had higher expectations.
Dec 25th, 2018