Aldo Conterno - Langhe Nebbiolo Il Favot

Aldo Conterno Il Favot Langhe Nebbiolo 2022

Il Favot isPoderi Aldo Conterno 's distinctive Langhe Nebbiolo, made from the youngest vines in Bussia as a kind of "baby Barolo" with a modern touch. What exactly is Il Favot 2022? It's a Langhe Nebbiolo made from young Nebbiolo vines in Bussia, briefly fermented on the skins and then aged for a long time in new French oak, resulting in a combination of deep color, soft tannins, and a pronounced, spicy complexity. At Perfectewijn, you'll find Il Favot as the most direct and generous glimpse into the Conterno family's Bussia estate, ideal if you want to explore their style without immediately reaching for Barolo.

Vineyards and region

The grapes for Aldo Conterno Il Favot Langhe Nebbiolo 2022 come from Italy, from Piedmont, from the Langhe region around Monforte d'Alba in the Bussia cru. The Favot estate is located just outside the village, in the heart of Bussia's historic center, where the vineyards lie at an altitude of around 400 meters on compact sands with grayish-brown hues, interspersed with white and bluish chalky marl. This interplay of sand and chalk gives Nebbiolo a fine structure, aromatic depth, and a subtle mineral note. The grapes for Il Favot come exclusively from younger vines, which, thanks to periodic replanting, are no older than approximately 15 to 20 years, thus bringing extra fruit and energy to the wine. The harvest is carried out entirely by hand in mid-October, with careful selection of the bunches in the vineyard. Since Aldo's death in 2012, his sons Franco, Stefano and Giacomo have run the estate, with a clear focus on lower yields and giving the various crus in Bussia an even sharper voice, as a continuation of Aldo's own "middle way" between traditional and modern.

Vinification and maturation

In the cellar, Il Favot 2022 is vinified traditionally yet purposefully. The harvest is destemmed and fermented as red wine in stainless steel tanks, with skin maceration for 6 to 8 days at controlled temperatures between 24 and 26°C. This relatively short skin maceration is deliberate: it extracts minimal hard tannins from the skins, but rather a lot of color and aromatics, giving the wine a deep color and a remarkably soft texture. After alcoholic fermentation, the young wine remains in stainless steel for approximately 5 to 6 months, during which it is racked several times for clarification. Il Favot is then aged for approximately 18 months in brand new French oak barriques, which imparts notes of vanilla, spice, and finely toasted wood that blend beautifully with the Nebbiolo fruit. The wine is then bottled and rests in the bottle before release. The alcohol content of the 2022 vintage is around 14%, with sufficient acidity and structure to allow for further maturation until at least the end of 2032, according to the technical sheet.

Grape composition

Nebbiolo – various vineyards in Bussia, Monforte d'Alba
Il Favot 2022 is 100% Nebbiolo from the Michet and Lampia clones, sourced from younger vines in different plots in Bussia, which provide intense fruit, deep color, firm but ripe tannins and a recognizable, slightly mineral signature.

Tasting notes and serving suggestions

In the glass, Il Favot 2022 displays a ruby ​​red color with a deep core. The nose opens with aromas of ripe red fruit, hints of forest, vanilla, and a touch of toasted wood, complemented by spicy notes and a touch of earthiness. On the palate, the wine is intense and layered, with juicy red fruit, impressions of grilled meat, tobacco, and a hint of truffle, supported by full-bodied yet beautifully integrated tannins and lively acidity. The finish is long, with fruit, spice, and a subtle mineral note. Serve Il Favot 2022 preferably between 16 and 18°C ​​(60-64°F) and allow young bottles to decant for 1 to 2 hours to allow the bouquet to unfold. At the table, it pairs perfectly with roasted or grilled red meat, lamb chops, poultry or game dishes, and with robust, aged cheeses, where its combination of power, freshness, and spicy complexity perfectly complements.

Awards

• 2022 – 94p (James Suckling)
• 2022 – 92 p (Decanter)
• 2022 – 93 p (Ian D'Agata, IWineReview)