2018 Cascina Fontana Langhe Nebbiolo

Community Tasting Notes (1) Avg Score: 90.3 points

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  9/23/2020 - forceberry wrote: 92 Points

  The fruit is sourced from old Vigna del Castello vineyard in Sinio, outside the Barolo region, but some lots from Vigna del Pozzo in Castiglone Falletto in the Barolo region are blended in. Fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel, macerated with the skins for 2 weeks. Aged first for 8 months in stainless steel and then for a further year in large Slavonian oak casks. 13,5% alcohol. Decanted for 4 hours.
  
  Pale, beautifully luminous and very translucent cherry red color with a brick-orange hue and a colorless rim. Seductively fragrant, floral and subtly sweet-toned nose with aromas of licorice, red cherries, some cool herbal tones, a little bit of jammy strawberry, light notes of rose hips, a perfumed hint of rose petals and a mineral touch of warm sun-baked rocks. The wine is dry, savory and wonderfully focused on the palate with a medium body and intense flavors of cherries, raspberries, some rowanberry marmalade, light fruity notes of arctic bramble, a little bit of sour cherry bitterness, a ferrous hint of iron and a touch of smoky earthiness. The overall feel is quite tightly-knit with the high acidity and balanced, moderately grippy tannins. The finish is long, dry and quite grippy with bright flavors of brambly raspberries, some blood, a little bit of cherry, light floral notes of roses, a hint of arctic bramble and a touch of gravelly minerality.
  
  A beautiful, classic and very balanced Langhe Nebbiolo with a very fresh, bright and harmonious feel despite the relatively warm vintage. This wine wasted tasted alongside the vintage 2017, and while that one felt weightier and more concentrated, it's really hard to assess which one was better. They are like two sides to the same coin - the 2017 felt more like a Baby Barolo, while this one feels lighter and more delicate, but not baby anything - more like a serious Barbaresco or Roero Nebbiolo than a "mere" Langhe Nebbiolo. Fine stuff, but all too youthful at the moment. Needs both food and some hearty food if opened now - however, I'd wait for at least 5-8 years more with this one. Expect the score to go up with age. Recommended.

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