B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
“Another highly successful vintage for one of La Morra's leading estates.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
From an “exemplary” vintage according to the Wine Spectator’s Bruce Sanderson that “will reward patient Nebbiolo fans,” the enticing 95 pt. 2019 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Monfalletto delivers richly aromatic, luscious fruit with layered, silky tannins crafted to be enjoyed over the next few decades, an elegant Barolo from one of the region’s most iconic estates and a fantastic value.
Traveling the winding drive to the historic Cordero di Montezemolo winery in the Piedmont, visitors pass the gated path to the legendary hilltop 165 yr. old Cedar of Lebanon, a marker of the family’s centuries’ long history in La Morra that has become such a popular attraction that it’s kept under lock and key. Rewarded with a spectacular panoramic view upon reaching the top, the historic 28-hectare single vineyard extends over all sides of the hill, its contiguous planting a rarity in Barolo and managed by 19th generation winemaker Alberto Cordero di Montezemolo since 2007. Sourcing most of its fruit for the Monfaletto from the Gattera cru with some from Annunziata, the organically grown Nebbiolo vines ranging up to 50 years of age are planted at 300 meters above sea level on sandy clay and calcareous soils, situated in an amphitheater with a southerly exposure that promotes even ripening. Employing a mix of different types of French and Slovenian wood, Alberto aged the parcels for the luxurious 2019 Monfaletto separately for 18 to 24 months before bottling with another year in the cellar before release, yielding a deeply textured Barolo that finishes “balanced and long” according to the Wine Spectator’s Bruce Sanderson “with a swath of solid tannins” that predict pleasurable drinking for several decades to come.
Declared “a very fine Barolo” by Antonio Galloni that “will thrill readers who appreciate the nuance, subtlety and structure of Nebbiolo,” the 95 pt. 2019 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Monfalletto delivers the goods for Barolo collectors, impeccably balancing fresh opulent fruit with polished silky tannins on a lengthy mineral-tinged finish, an unbeatable value worthy of making room in the cellar to enjoy over the next decades. |