This bottling from the same Ginestra vineyard sees additional aging for even more integrated tannins and remarkable levels of complexity. A jaw-dropping 54 months in cask followed by an additional 12 months in bottle is a testament to the Conterno family’s commitment to quality. The 2016 vintage is a classic and benefited from nearly ideal conditions for a long growing season. Layers of rose, pepper, sarsaparilla, and macerated cherry lead to a palate with exceptional concentration and approachability.

Barolo producers often fall into two camps: modernists, favoring riper styles with more oak from smaller barrels, and classicists, who prioritize elegance and ageability through extended maceration and large cask aging. Paolo Conterno, founded in 1886 as ‘Casa della Ginestra,’ firmly belongs to the latter. Its flagship ‘Ginestra’ bottling comes from a prime, south-facing vineyard in Monforte d’Alba, with 30–35-year-old vines rooted in clay and calcium-rich soil. Grapes are hand-harvested over 10 days, de-stemmed, and macerated for 18–25 days, followed by time in large casks and 6–12 months of bottle aging.