2016 Barolo Castelletto Vigna Pressenda
Buying options
Tasting notes
Sweet, ripe plum and black cherry fruit marks this mouthfilling red. Late summer pastures, mint and licorice accents chime in, and this shows plenty of grip on the compact finish. 150 cases imported.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The Conterno Fantino 2016 Barolo Castelletto Vigna Pressenda (with 6,500 bottles produced) draws its fruit from a 1.2-hectare site in Monforte d'Alba with silty soils mixed with sand and clay. It opens to bright cherry and dried raspberry that set the tone for the abundant primary fruit that defines the bouquet. Those red berry flavors cede to cola, spice, mint and rosemary essence. There is an almost exotic quality here spurred forward by pressed blue flower and church incense. However, the big takeaway here is the sheer energy and resonance of this classic Barolo.
This shows density and polish with lots of chewy tannins, which are medium-grained and give the wine form. Pretty ripe fruit in the center palate. Needs two or three years to come together. Better after 2022.
The 2016 Barolo Castelletto Vigna Pressenda is bright, punchy and super expressive, with striking floral and mineral top notes that lend energy and brilliance to this mid-weight Barolo. The purity of the flavors is just striking. Medium in body, gracious and nuanced, the Castelletto has so much to offer. This is a super-classic wine that shows significant tension and austerity; I would give it a few years to soften.