Diego Conterno Baluma Langhe Nebbiolo 2023

Diego Conterno Baluma Langhe Nebbiolo 2023

A rising star in the southern reaches of the Barolo zone, Diego Conterno and his son, Stefano, craft elegant Nebbiolo wines in Monforte d’Alba. Diego started his own project in 2000, after two decades at Conterno- Fantino where he worked alongside his cousins, bringing with him a five-acre plot in ‘Ginestra, ’ Monforte’s top cru.

Conterno wines “blend the energy and brawn of Monforte with the translucence of traditionally inspired winemaking, ” says Antonio Galloni. Rich and potent yet suave in perfume and flavor, Conterno wines are made naturally, fermented on indigenous yeasts and aged in traditional large oak cask (botti). All vines are cared for organically.

Average 15yo vines. Estate vineyard ‘Ferrione, ’ located just outside the Barolo zone near Monforte d’Alba, on a hillside facing west/southwest, at 1,500 feet above sea level. Soils mix clay with limestone marl.

Hand-harvested. Destemmed; fermented on indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled steel tank. Aged in oak tonneaux (500L) for five months and four months in cement tank.

Give this a bit of air on opening as it's pretty compact early days. once settled it's open with a delicious nose of tar, ripe strawberries, fresh leather, rose petals, mint as well as this translucent cassis jelly - you can certainly feel the Monforte territory here, that graphite and rust, slightly darker fruit that you think from the nose and then this briory, dark spice character that slots in with the rustic tannins. It's a classic combination of clarity and elegance of fruit, juxtaposed by the mineral, ferric structure that old school Nebbiolo brings! Great value and restraint in what is quite a warm vintage!