2022 Aldo Conterno "Romirasco" Barolo

From vines planted in 1937, Romirasco sports its classic balsamic herb accents joined by tobacco, cigar smoke, nutmeg and liquorice. A mix of macerated berries, wild brambles and grenadine saturate the thick, concentrated palate. Vertical tannins are upfront and immediate – dry and rigid on the one hand but juicy on the other. This will need time to digest both its structure and wood before black pepper and rosemary anchor the finish. The estate trialled slightly cooler fermentation temperatures in 2022, giving a longer fermentation period, while macerations were shortened to just two weeks. The idea was to manage extractions while still coaxing out the distinct personalities of each cru. (MM)