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"Exceptional finesse and delicacy"
2012 Conterno Barbera Cascina Francia
"This is a magnificent showing." -Antonio Galloni
Like everything from Conterno, his Barbera is a special wine. It basically redefines the category.
As John Gilman wrote in his thorough profile on Conterno in View from the Cellar, these are "truly some of the greatest examples of Barbera that I have tasted down through the years."
What separates Conterno's Barbera from the pack is its layered complexity and its simultaneously ethereal, walk on tip-toes quality. The combination is really amazing, especially after 5-10 years in the cellar. I don't know of a Barbera available that pays dividends in the cellars like Conterno's.
2012 is a really great and fascinating vintage for Conterno's Barbera. I believe that this is the first time that we've offered Conterno's Barbera Cascina Francia. It's a wine that takes a lot of effort to find in any quantity. Once we tasted the 2012, I immediately started hunting some down.
The magic of the 2012 is how it combines the saturating intensity of riper vintages with a dynamic, zingy acid backbone. Antonio Galloni hits it on the head when he describes the way it "stands out for its exceptional finesse and delicacy." This is a very high-toned floral and red fruited example of Conterno's Barbera with savory undertones of resinous herbs and spice.
I'm going to cut this short and get back to the holiday madness. For Piedmont fans, this is not to miss. This is one of the great examples of the grape.
To order, reply to offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits