Andrew first met Gian and Alessandro
during harvest in 2003. He happened to lean over the wall of their
Cantina, to watch them bring the freshly harvested grapes into the
cellar - and they invited him in to try their wines.
The estate is owned and run by the two
brothers, of whom Alessandro spent ten years as winemaker for the
legendary Bartolo Mascarello. A consistently excellent producer of
Barolo, Fantino is the only estate located in the historic centre
of the old city at Monforte d'Alba and parts of the cantina date
back to the 1600s. The Fantinos' vineyards are limited to under 10
hectares contained within the cru Vigna dei Dardi site. Like
Mascarello, the Fantino brothers are dedicated to the traditions of
the Langhe. They are one of the few totally organic producers who
respect their grapes and do not tamper with nature in the vineyard
or cellar - so you will be drinking an excellent wine, entirely as
nature intended.
They make superb, uncomplicated and
moreish wines that are really great fun, their Barolo Riserva for
example, at that price, you really cannot beat.