2018 A & G Fantino Barolo Bussia Cascina Dardi 750ML

I discovered this Barolo some twenty years ago. It was part of the Robert Chatterdon Selections that introduced me to some of Italy’s greatest wine and I have love this Barolo ever since! Today it is part of as prestigious Kermit Lynch Portfolio.

Two brothers, Alessandro and Gian Natale Fantino, run this family estate in Monforte d’Alba. The brothers own eight hectares in the heart of the historic Bussia cru north of Monforte, one of Barolo’s most famous areas for producing wines of great longevity and finesse. The Fantino holdings are concentrated exclusively in the “Dardi” section of Bussia, a hillside with perfect southern and southeastern exposure in the geographic center of Bussia. This gives them their “Cascina Dardi” brand name on the label.

Barolos from Bussia tend to have deep color and rich fruit and while they don’t lack the classic tannic structure of Nebbiolo from this part of the world, they are not nearly as hard as the Barolos from the southside of Monforte or from Serralunga. This fact does not preclude the Fantino Baroli from aging but makes them delightfully approachable relatively young. The Fantinos are also blessed with some of the oldest vines in the entire Barolo zone, thanks to the fastidious care given to them by Alessandro and Gian Natale. Planted in 1946 and 1947 and pruned in an old style that is very labor intensive, they produce grapes that would be the envy of any Barolista.