Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala 2020

Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala 2020 is a single-vineyard Barolo from one of Piedmont’s most revered estates, showcasing the depth and precision of top-tier Nebbiolo. Sourced from the legendary Cicala cru within the Bussia hill, this wine balances power with refinement, offering both immediate allure and long-term aging potential. A benchmark bottling for collectors and serious enthusiasts alike, it captures the soul of traditional Barolo through a meticulous, vineyard-driven approach.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2020 Cicala shows a deep garnet hue with a transparent core and classic brick reflections at the rim, signaling its Nebbiolo pedigree. The nose is focused and complex, with notes of ripe red cherry, wild strawberry, dried rose petals, and violet, layered over hints of tar, sweet spices, cedar, licorice, and a subtle, earthy minerality. On the palate, this is a structured, vertical Barolo: firm yet fine-grained tannins frame flavors of red cherry, raspberry, blood orange, and pomegranate, supported by nuances of tobacco, anise, dried herbs, and a faint savory, iron-like edge typical of great Bussia fruit. The acidity is vibrant and mouthwatering, giving the wine lift and precision while the finish is long, persistent, and slightly saline. While already expressive with air, the 2020 Cicala is built for the cellar, with a drinking window that can comfortably extend 15–25 years from the vintage, gaining complexity, truffle and underbrush notes as it matures.

Production
The Cicala vineyard is a prized parcel within the Bussia cru in Monforte d’Alba, known for its steep slopes, calcareous-clay marl soils and excellent south to southwest exposure, which together foster Nebbiolo of great intensity and structure. Yields are kept low to concentrate flavor, and grapes are typically harvested by hand to ensure meticulous selection of only the healthiest, perfectly ripe bunches. In the cellar, Aldo Conterno adheres to a refined, classically inspired approach: extended maceration on the skins to extract nuanced tannins and aromatics, followed by aging in large Slavonian oak botti rather than small barriques, allowing the wine to develop complexity and polish while preserving the purity of fruit and the strong identity of the Cicala terroir.

Food & Serving
Barolo Cicala 2020 shines alongside richly flavored, savory dishes that can stand up to its structure and intensity. Think braised meats such as osso buco, braised veal shank, slow-cooked lamb shoulder, game birds, roasted duck, and truffle-infused dishes, as well as aged hard cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano or mature Pecorino. It also pairs beautifully with mushroom risotto, roasted root vegetables, and Piedmontese specialties like tajarin with ragù or brasato al Barolo. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F); for current drinking, decant for 1.5–3 hours to soften the tannins and fully open the bouquet. Older bottles will need gentler handling, with a shorter, careful decant mainly for sediment.

Producer
Poderi Aldo Conterno is one of Barolo’s iconic estates, founded by Aldo Conterno in the late 1960s after he parted ways with the family winery to pursue his own vision of quality and terroir expression. Based in Monforte d’Alba, the domaine is especially renowned for its trio of single-vineyard Barolos—Cicala, Colonnello and Romirasco—each drawn from prime sites within the Bussia hill, one of the most historic and esteemed crus in the region. Over the decades, the estate has earned an international reputation for producing deeply structured yet finely balanced Barolo that age gracefully, consistently garnering high critical praise and a loyal following among collectors. Today, under the stewardship of Aldo’s sons, the winery remains a reference point in Piedmont, seamlessly blending tradition with precise, thoughtful vineyard and cellar work.

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