James Suckling 91 pts.TERROIR & VINTAGE NOTES
The 250-acre Fontanafredda property in Serralunga d’Alba, a cru site of Barolo, is the single largest contiguous wine estate in the Langhe and includes 247 acres of vineyards, 30 acres of woodland and 10 acres on which the cellars and village buildings lie. Owned vineyards are in the municipalities of Serralunga d’Alba, Diano d’Alba, Barolo, Dogliani, Farigliano, Alba, Rodello, and Murinsengo, at altitudes between 200 - 400m.
Havested from vineyards across Monferrato and the Langhe, with calcareous, sand-rich marly soils. Vineyards are at an average of 250-300m asl and planted with a high density of 5,000 vines/ha.
WINEMAKING & AGEING
Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks for around 6-7 days at 73-77°F, with frequent pumping over. Following, the wine is racked into concrete tanks for malolactic fermentation, which is completed in December.
Aged partly in new, Allier oak barrels and partly in large Slavonian oak casks. After a few months, it is ligtly fined and bottled in late spring.
