Two brothers, Alessandro and Gian Natale Fantino, run this family estate in Monforte d’Alba. The brothers own eight hectares in the heart of the historic Bussia cru north of Monforte, one of Barolo’s most famous areas for producing wines of great longevity and finesse. The Fantino holdings are concentrated exclusively in the “Dardi” section, a hillside with perfect southern and southeastern exposure in the geographic center of Bussia.
This historic estate holds a virtual monopoly on the appellation of Palette. Château Simone encompasses twenty hectares of vineyards that sit on limestone soils on the slopes of Montaiguet. All of the grapes are hand harvested, destemmed, lightly pressed and fermented for 15 to 20 days in small wooden vats with only wild yeast, then put into small foudre to rest on the lees. The red from Simone is an elegant wine of great depth. It is primarily composed of Grenache and Mourvedre but its special character reflects the presence of a melange other grape varieties, including Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan, Castet, Manosquin, Theoulier, Tibouren, Picpoul Noir and Muscat de Hambourg. The wine is a classic that deserves to be aged in order to best appreciate its many nuances.
Walter Massa farms local varieties of grapes in his vineyards in Monleale, in the Tortona Hills corner of Piemonte. Pertichetta is a wine made of Croatina, called also Bonarda, a wine that requires time to soften the firm tannins of the grape. This croatina is fermented with indigenous yeast and aged in botte grande for about two years. This wine has intense cranberry notes and a long finish, that remind you of black tea tannins. Perfect with charcuterie, rich meats or aged cheeses
