Locanda nel Borgo Antico with Roberto Conterno

Last Thursday morning whilst still a little tired from the wonderful Clos de Tart dinner, Adam (MD), Alison (Buyer) and myself met up at Gatwick for the flight to Torino. To say I was a little excited about this trip would be understatement of the year, I am something of a Barolo obsessive. Having arrived to me met by a muggy 26degrees we folded ourselves into the fiat 500 and set of for Monforte d’Alba. Despite the heavy traffic we were in Monforte at our hotel – Le Case della Saracca (http://www.saracca.com/) which I strongly recommend – with just enough time to freshen up before meeting up with Roberto and his assistant Francesca. We shared a bottle of a Piedmont Sparkler, Valentino 2006, 70% Chardonnay 30% Pinot Noir and very good it was.

After this we all jumped into Roberto’s car and headed to a nearby restaurant than Roberto had chosen - Locanda nel Borgo Antico (http://www.locandanelborgo.com/) . It was terrific, attentive service, great food and a nice atmosphere with plenty of space, oh and a stunning view - look it out if you are in the area. We had seen Roberto sneak a bottle out of the boot of the car but it was not to be revealed till later. We had two Barolos to start things off. Roberto chose to show us two different styles, I must say at this stage that it is very rare for a producer anywhere in the wine world to show another producers wines and much as we knew we would finish the evening with a wine of Roberto’s it was very interesting.

The first wine was Barolo Monprivato 2006 from Guiseppe Mascarello, like Roberto’s wine this is a very traditional style and from one single vineyard. There was a little, and not unpleasant, “stink” that went quickly, this was followed by a really lovely almost Volnay-like red fruit elegance, very smart wine, this will developed well. I loved the very traditional style. Roberto suggested that their 2005 was very good indeed. Wine two could not have been more different - Barolo Cicala 2005 from Roberts uncle, Aldo Conterno. Much darker and more saturated of colour, rich, dense and dark, not so much my style if I am honest but good, lots of fruit and a touch of coffee and linseed notes. This changed through the meal more than wine 1. The combination was fascinating to look at, small and taste. The Vitello Tonnato I had with these two was superb!

By now Roberto had revealed what the last wine was but at the same time suggested that we had a wine that was between the first pair and the last wine in terms of age. It was a recommendation from the sommelier, the wine in queston was Barolo La Ginestra 1982 from Paolo Conterno (no relation), very traditional in style, a typical aged Barolo, just the sort of think I love a bovril and sherry scenario on the nose, a lovely brick colour, really really nice, balanced. Next up was the highlight Barolo Riserva 1971 from Giacomo Conterno and therefore Roberto – the term Riserva was dropped from 1985 onwards as it was only a legal requirement back then. The sommelier was so excited by this bottle and served it at the perfect, cool as for red Burgundy, temperature. It was holding an amazing colour, youthful and fresh, very complete, glorious, slight maturity “funk”, seamless, nearly too balanced, a wine you could never grow bored off and an early candidate for my mature wine of the year award (don’t worry this is only a hypothetical award!) The four wines a set were brilliant and fascinating and show that one should just try these wines, they are not the tannic monsters that they are sometimes portrayed as.

Through the evening many questions were asked and topics discussed, I’ve summarised some of these

Roberto on…

Decanting? Yes with wines that have been in bottle for 2 or more years and don’t be afraid of 2-3 hours or more, Barolo is not afraid of air. A phrase I remember was “in Barolo oxidation brings sweetness”.

Tasting others producers wines? Yes, but in private and always blind and never for the sake of criticising them, purely as a way of looking at what people and doing and what they are producing.

Buying land in Barolo? Would love to but so rarely does a good vineyard or site come up.

All the Conterno’s in Barolo…there are many as the name Conterno is not rare in Italy, the only relation is between Roberto’s estate (Giacomo Conterno) and that of his Uncle Aldo.

The Challenges of making Barbera and Nebbiolo…the Barbera does not like rain but is fine with almost any amount of heat and is earlier to harvest.The Nebbiolo is not a fan of excessive heat but is ok with rain and ripens late, sometimes very late.

Why the Monfortino bottle is different to the other wines? Purely as a way of Roberto’s grandfather knowing which was which in the cellar. In past times the wines would all have been kept “naked”.

If he had to make sine elsewhere then where? Burgundy, “I am a massive Pinot Noir fan” and if not Tuscany but working with Brunello (Sangiovese) rather than a modern style…Soldera got a mention.

The Great older vintages? 1958 one of the greatest then going further back 1955 and 1947. I mentioned 1964 which he likes but prefers 1967.

It was a brilliant evening…as this is already quite long…I couldn’t help myself I will cover the following days tasting and vineyard visit separately…