Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia Colonnello 2014 is a top-tier single-vineyard red wine from a renowned estate in Piedmont, Italy. Although 2014 was a challenging vintage for the Barolo region, the winery, through its exceptional craftsmanship, transformed the challenges into an elegant and precise style.
Wine Profile
- Region: Colonnello plot within the historic Bussia vineyard in Monforte d'Alba, Piedmont, Italy.
- Grape Variety: 100% Nebbiolo, primarily from vines aged 40 to 45 years.
- Aging Process: Skin maceration in stainless steel tanks for approximately 4 weeks, followed by aging in large Slavonian oak barrels for approximately 28 to 29 months.
- Winery Background: Poderi Aldo Conterno is hailed as one of the greatest winemakers in Barolo, specializing in crafting refined, traditional-style Barolo that showcases the microclimate.
Wine Features
- Flavor characteristics: Compared to Romirasco, Colonnello typically exhibits more floral (such as dried flowers and roses), red cherry and spicy elegant lifted notes, dense tannins, and a finish with a delicate saltiness and acidity.
- Aroma and Palate: According to Wine-Searcher and professional wine reviews, the 2014 vintage presents a bright ruby color with a garnet rim, offering rich aromas of blackberry, ripe cherry, rose petals, and clove, while also incorporating flavors of dark earth, plum, and sweet spices. The palate is classic, elegant, and dry, with fine, tight tannins and a long finish.
Recommended drinking period
- Drinking window: 2023 to 2038+. This wine is currently in its excellent drinking window, but due to its deep structure and high acidity, it still possesses good aging potential.
- Serving suggestions: It is recommended to decant for 1 to 2 hours before serving to fully release its layers of flavor. It pairs best with richly flavored dishes such as roasted lamb chops, aged cheeses, or truffle dishes.
Rating
- Wine Spectator: 95 points – Praises its aromas of cinnamon, cherry, sandalwood, and vanilla; full-bodied, complex, and powerful, requiring time for the new oak flavors to fully develop.
- Falstaff: 96 points – Bright ruby rim, lively aromas of blackberry, ripe cherry, rose, and clove.
- James Suckling: 93 points – Full of classic Nebbiolo fragrance with a hint of chocolate, this 2014 vintage is full-bodied and complex.
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 91 points – Considers the initial aromas of this vintage somewhat restrained and shy, but then develops excellent momentum and herbal notes on the palate.
