Barolo, DOCG, Arione,

The 2018 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Arione is a deeper color than their Cerretta, with a little garnet tone at the rim. On the nose and palate there are lovely clear aromas, with plenty of bright red fruits, strawberries, spice, and pepper. The beautiful Arione vineyard that Roberto Conterno bought in 2015 in Serralunga ripens earlier than Francia and is south-south-west facing, which perhaps explains the impression of extra ripeness to the fruit. It has lots of very silty-textured tannins, like fine grains of sand, giving much more grip and firmness. The finish is long, lingering and savory. It is quite closed at present and not revealing its full identity but the potential for this wine looks very exciting.

The 2018 Barolo Arione is an imposing wine. It's presence alone is impossible to miss. Arione is a wine that demands attention. There is something wild and exotic - almost animalistic - about the Arione and the way it asserts itself. Time in the glass brings out scents of sage, menthol, white pepper and orange peel. A generous kick of Serralunga acidity and tannin punctuates the finish. It's still early days for Roberto Conterno's Barolo from Arione. I can't wait to see how this ages.