Aldo Conterno’s family have been producing the great wines of Piedmont for more than five generations. Their winery is situated in Bussia at Monforte d’Alba and is devoted to the vinification of grapes coming exclusively from their vineyards in the neighboring hills of Alba, which are in the heart of the production zone of Barolo. Eighty percent of the vineyards are exposed south-southwestwards and lay at an altitude of 480m above sea level. The soil is mainly composed of layers of brownish – grey sand of medium density alternated with calcerous white and blueish marl. Conscious work in the vineyard, controlled must fermentation, and traditional systems of ageing combine to produce great wines of fine quality.

Aldo Conterno ‘Romarisco ’ Barolo DOCG 2004 (750ml) Single Price $325.00 Special online price $250.00
Aldo Conterno ‘Romarisco ’ Barolo DOCG 2004 (1500ml) Single Price $695.00 Special online price $550.00
There is no need to taste the 2004 Barolo Romirasco, the nose alone is enough to understand that this is magnificent wine. Aromas of tar, roses, menthol, scorched earth and smoke lead to a core of dark red fruit than unfolds onto the palate with uncommon grace and elegance. As it sits in the glass the wine gradually puts on weight, filling out its considerably structured frame with notable class. The last Romirasco was made in 1993. This bottling has typically only been made in vintages where quality is not sufficient for the family to make their top of the line Riserva Granbussia, as was the case in 2004, when the Cicala vineyard was damaged by hail. Conterno told me is so happy with this wine he will probably bottle a small quantity going forward to see how it develops. It will be fascinating to taste future Romirascos next to the Granbussias of the same vintage to evaluate how a single-vineyard wine from what many consider to be one of Bussia’s greatest vineyards compares to the Granbussia blend. Conterno expects to price the Romirasco at the same level or slightly more than the Colonnello. If that turns out to be the case, this will be a superb relative value as well.
95 Points Wine Advocate # 174, Antonio Galloni

Aldo Conterno ‘Colonnello ’ Barolo DOCG 2004 2004 Single Price $260.00 Special online price $210.00
Conterno’s 2004 Barolo Colonnello reveals a core of ripe dark cherries and a beautifully layered, sweet personality with superb length and a refined, fresh finish. With air the wine’s perfumed, spiced qualities emerge to complete this terrific effort. The Colonnello vineyard lies on the Monforte border with Barolo, with which it shares several attributes. A higher percentage of sand in Colonnello gives the wine its signature aromatics and refined tannins. This is an especially successful vintage for this wine.
94 Points Wine Advocate # 174, Antonio Galloni

Aldo Conterno Barolo DOCG 2004 Single Price $180.00 Special online price $150.00
Aldo Conterno’s 2004 Barolo is simply beautiful. A medium red, it presents a feminine expression of Nebbiolo in its perfumed, spiced red raspberries and cherries. This is a soft, accessible Barolo ideal for near and mid-term drinking that fully captures the essence of this great vintage. Beginning with the 2004 vintage, this wine includes fruit from 15-year-old vines in Colonnello, a vineyard with sandier soils that lies on the border with Barolo. In the past this fruit was used for the Langhe Favot but now it makes up about 30% of the blend for the Barolo. As a result this bottling now carries the Barolo designation rather than the Barolo Bussia name which was used for previous vintages.
91 Points Wine Advocate # 174, Antonio Galloni

Aldo Conterno ‘Granbussia’ Barolo Riserva 2001 Single Price $480.00 Special online price $380.00
The 2001 Barolo Riserva Granbussia is wonderfully harmonious in its sweet, expressive aromatics and perfumed, ripe red fruit.- Medium in body, this delicate Granbussia is surprisingly open at this stage. It is impossible to resist now, although it may start to close up in bottle. This is a remarkably fresh and vibrant Granbussia that should develop beautifully over the following years and decades.
94 Points Wine Advocate Italy Report # 0805, Antonio Galloni

Aldo Conterno ‘Il Favot’ Langhe Nebbiolo 2005 Single Price $120.00 Special online price $95.00
Shows wonderful aromas, with blackberry and lavender. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. This is more like a top Barolo than a Nebbiolo d'Alba. Best from 2009 through 2012.
(JS) 90 Points Wine Spectator

Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera D’Alba 2004 Single Price $80.00 Special online price $65.00
“Barbera d'Alba Conca Tre Pile is certainly worthy of mention. This is a benchmark Barbera produced from fruit grown on the hillsides of Bussia Soprana, harvested from vines at least 45 years old. It is an extremely attractive example of the style which I have enjoyed, and I think it well worth seeking out.”
www.thewinedoctor.com
A soft, fruity red, with blackberry and plum character. Medium-bodied, with good fruit and a juicy finish.
(JS) 88 Points Wine Spectator

Aldo Conterno Langhe Rosso 2005 Single Price $60.00 Special online price $35.00

Aldo Conterno 'Masante' Langhe Dolcetto 2007 Single Price $45.00 Special online price $48.00

Aldo Conterno 'Bussiaor Chardonnay Langhe DOC 2005 Single Price $90.00 Special online price $75.00

 

2008 was a remarkable season from start to finish. Weather could not have been better; from the start of spring flowering, right through the summer and into harvest. Fruit was in beautiful condition with lush flavours and ripe tannins resulting in a range of excellent wines. Altogether, 2008 was a huge lift for our spirits after the tiny crops of 2007.

Ata Rangi Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Single Price $35.00 Special online price $26.50
Hand-picked from a near perfect season, this sublime wine shows a glorious medley of tropical fruits, passionfruit, citrus, elderflower and pear. It is rich and fleshy, almost creamy on the palate, with a restraint and elegance that is all class. Aiming for a complex, satisfying, food-friendly style, a small portion was fermented in older barrels to enhance mid palate weight and texture. Our dry windy climate consistently delivers low yields and this variety is no exception. Obsessive attention to detail throughout the season ensures the fruit comes in at optimum flavour and balance, sometimes even harvesting the warmer side of individual rows and going back a few days later for the cooler side. Winemaker Helen Masters considers the 2008 one of the finest sauvignons yet produced by Ata Rangi.

Ata Rangi Petrie Chardonnay 2008 Single Price $40.00 Special online price $28.99
A pristine, mouth-wateringly juicy Chardonnay from the consistently top performing Petrie Vineyard. Jasmine florals and citrus blossom, sweet mandarin and a hint of freshly ground almond all contribute to an enticing nose. On the palate, a classy, almost chalky minerality offsets vibrant flavours of lemonade fruit and lime peel, while a hint of sweet hay adds savoury complexity.
The grapes are sourced from a very low-yielding block owned by the Petrie family, twenty minutes drive north of Martinborough on river terraces at East Taratahi. The wine carries the Wairarapa version of our logo to differentiate it from wines made wholly from Martinborough fruit.

Ata Rangi Crimson Pinot Noir 2008 Single Price $40.00 Special online price $28.99
Crimson 2008 has an enticing nose of dark cherry blended with new season raspberry and wild mulberries. Light touches of smoky clove and exotic spice enhance the rich flavours of sweet red plum and black cherry that burst onto the palate. Very fine, supple tannins carry evenly right to the finish. This wine is utterly charming with an underlying structure that has real weight and power.