Aldo Conterno Barolo DOCG Cicala 2020
The Wine
PRE-ORDER: Allow at least 2 weeks for delivery
The Cicala vineyard is planted on compact calcareous clay soils that retain water and encourage slow, even ripening. The result is Nebbiolo with concentration and gravitas, perfectly suited to long macerations and extended maturation. At this site the vines dig deep, producing fruit with firm tannins, deep colour, and savoury complexity.
The Conterno family treats Cicala with the same traditional methods that define the estate. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel with a lengthy maceration to extract colour and tannin. Ageing occurs in large Slavonian oak casks for over two years followed by further time in bottle before release. The wine is unfined and unfiltered to preserve its authenticity and structure.
97 Pts James Suckling 'Dense garnet in the glass. On the nose it’s restrained, with cinnamon, sweet violets, cherry pits and a balsamic whiff. The attack is full, with a dense palate that’s powerful yet velvety. The crisp, refined tannins are long. with deliciously integrated acidity. Great balance and concentration.
18.5 Pts Matthew Jukes 'This amazing site, situated on limestone, clay and iron, has a directness and focus that is unique in my experience. Introverted, gruff, bristling with intent (and a degree of anguish), but waiting for the signal to proceed, 2020 Cicala is holding itself back, with mighty self-control, for fear of bursting from the blocks like a berserker and upsetting decades of diligent character building. The energy is incredible, and the latent power and deep mineral core are sensational, and the fruit sets about its job of organising itself, little by little, into a coherent and well mannered wine. This might take a few years, but the building blocks are here to fashion a remarkable wine that shows that even though we think we know this vineyard’s character, unlimited facets and combinations of flavour are born here, and not one is the same. Long may this continue.
The Details
Variety - Nebbiolo
Country - Italy
Region - Piemonte
Sub Region - Barolo
Extra - Cork
Year - 2020
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
The Poderi Aldo Conterno wine brand was established by one of the most reputed winemakers of Italy, Aldo Conterno. These wine are made in the Piemonte region, located in the Langhe district of Italy. Thanks to the traditional winemaking styles and the innovations that Conterno introduced to his wines, he is still considered as the most talented winemaker that Piemonte had ever seen. Today, his sons, Franco, Stefano and Giacomo, manage the Poderi Aldo Conterno wines with great efficiency and elegance.
The grapes for the Conterno wines are sourced from the three cru vineyards of Romirasco, Cicala and Colonello in the Monforte d’Alba area. These areas are blessed with the unique terroir quality of the Langhe region. The soil quality, temperature and overall terroir of these vineyards are good enough to create the authentic indigenous varietal of Nebbiolo with the right spice note in it.
These vineyards cover an area of about 25 hectares in Bussia Soprana. The Barolo Granbussia, a popular wine of this label, is made from grapes sourced from a combination of the three vineyards explained in the above section. Almost 70% of the fruits come from the Romirasco vineyards while the Cicala and Colonello vineyards contribute to 15% of the grapes each.
Barolo wine lovers form an instant connect with the Poderi Aldo Conterno wines because the family still follows the ancient Barolo winemaking techniques in its work. The philosophy followed by the Conterno family is that the wines should be aged for a long time before they are finally released for bottling. This will help to retain the flavours and the characteristics of the grapes used for making them. Today, though the label’s primary focus likes on producing Barolo wines, it shows equal commitment and passion for producing Barbera wines of the highest quality ever.
