Notes:

• Producer: Diego Conterno is a family estate based in Monforte d'Alba, where Diego works alongside his son Stefano Conterno. Diego was one of the founding partners of Conterno-Fantino in the early 1980s before establishing his own estate, drawing on longstanding family vineyard holdings in Monforte. The domaine is particularly focused on Nebbiolo and the distinctive terroirs of the commune, producing Barolo with a traditional approach built around indigenous-yeast fermentation, extended maceration, large oak casks, and restrained élevage. The Barolo del Comune di Monforte d'Alba sits between the estate's broader Barolo and its individual vineyard bottlings, bringing together fruit from two parcels within Ginestra, one of Monforte's most important vineyard areas.
• Vineyard: The wine is produced from 100% Nebbiolo selected from two estate parcels within the Ginestra MGA: Pajana and Ciabot. Pajana faces east, while Ciabot has a southeast exposure, and the vineyards sit between approximately 900 and 1,020 feet in elevation. The soils combine clay, sand, and limestone marl, providing the structure and mineral backbone associated with Nebbiolo grown in Monforte d'Alba. The two parcels are vinified separately before being brought together for the final wine, allowing their individual characteristics to contribute to a broader expression of Ginestra and Monforte. The 2021 vintage delivered the combination of ripeness, acidity, and tannic structure particularly well suited to Nebbiolo and the naturally powerful character of Monforte.
• Winemaking: The Nebbiolo is harvested by hand and completely destemmed before fermentation with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Pajana and Ciabot are fermented separately before blending. Following fermentation, the wine is matured for 24 months in 50-hectoliter Stockinger oak botti, keeping the influence of oak restrained while allowing Nebbiolo's tannins and structure to develop slowly. It then spends an additional eight months in concrete tanks before bottling. The combination of native-yeast fermentation, large-format oak, and concrete maturation keeps the élevage firmly in the background, emphasizing the structure, fruit, and character of its Monforte origins.
• Technical Details: Barolo DOCG; del Comune di Monforte d'Alba; 2021 vintage; Piedmont, Italy; 100% Nebbiolo; fruit from Pajana and Ciabot within the Ginestra MGA; Pajana east-facing; Ciabot southeast-facing; approximately 900–1,020 feet elevation; clay, sand, and limestone-marl soils; hand harvested; destemmed; indigenous-yeast fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel; parcels vinified separately; aged 24 months in 50-hL Stockinger oak botti; additional 8 months in concrete before bottling; 14.5% ABV; 750ml; natural cork closure.
• Food Pairing: Brasato al Barolo, braised short ribs, osso buco, roast lamb, grilled ribeye, venison, wild boar, tajarin with porcini or white truffles, mushroom risotto, polenta with braised beef, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Castelmagno. The wine's combination of Nebbiolo acidity, concentrated fruit, and firm Monforte tannins makes it particularly well suited to slow-cooked meats, game, mushrooms, and aged cheeses. The structure of the 2021 also gives it excellent potential for further bottle development, while a generous decant will help open the wine when served young.