Barolo DOCG 2015 Riserva, Fontanafredda

The Barolo DOCG 2015 Riserva from Fontanafredda is a prestigious expression of the Nebbiolo grape, hailing from the historic estate’s vineyards in the Langhe region of Piedmont. As a “Riserva,” it represents a selection of the finest fruit from a high-quality vintage, subjected to significantly longer ageing than standard Barolo.

Sensory Characteristics

• Appearance: The wine presents a deep garnet-red colour that develops slight orange or brick-like hues at the rim, a classic indicator of extended oak maturation.
• Aroma: It possesses an intense and evolving bouquet. Primary notes of dried rose petals and red cherries are layered with complex earthy scents such as forest floor, tobacco, leather, and sweet spices like cinnamon and cloves.
• Palate: On the palate, the 2015 Riserva is full-bodied and robust. It is characterised by a dense structure of firm, silky tannins and a vibrant acidity that provides balance. The finish is exceptionally long, leaving impressions of balsamic, liquorice, and dark fruit.

Vinification and Ageing

Produced only in years of exceptional quality, the 2015 vintage benefited from a warm growing season that resulted in high phenolic ripeness.

• Maceration: The wine undergoes a long period of skin contact during fermentation to extract deep colour and complex tannins.
• Ageing: Following DOCG regulations for the Riserva designation, the wine is aged for a total of 62 months (over five years) before release. Fontanafredda typically achieves this through a combination of large Slavonian oak casks and smaller French oak barrels, followed by a final period of refinement in the bottle.

Serving and Pairing

• Service: To fully appreciate its aromatic complexity, it should be decanted at least one to two hours before serving and enjoyed in large “balloon” glasses at a temperature of 18–20°C.
• Food Pairing: This is a powerful wine suited for rich, savoury dishes. It pairs excellently with truffle-infused pastas, braised beef (Brasato al Barolo), wild game, and well-aged cheeses like Castelmagno or Gorgonzola.