FONTANAFREDDA BACK-VINTAGE BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY
WHY BUY: Three decades of Barolo, matured in Fontanafredda's own cellars and released from the estate’s library stocks : the 1997, 2005, and 2013 vintages. This is your chance to see time work its magic on Nebbiolo, in a quartet of matured, gorgeously textured wines that are drinking beautifully right now. And the prices are as tempting as the wines themselves. To wit: a Barolo from one of Fontanafredda’s historic vineyards in the Paiagallo MGA with 20 years of age on it for only $85, and — the ringer of the group — a bold and majestic Barbaresco for just $58.
PEDIGREE: No less an eminence than Robert Parker has lauded Fontanafredda as "one of the great names of Piedmontese winemaking."
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: The Wine Advocate weighed in on two of the Vigna La Rosas. It praised the 2013 for its "structure and elegance," a bouquet "redolent of dark fruit and spice," and an impressive "staying power and strength." Robert Parker himself, on the 1997, found "the essence of melted licorice, blackberries, and assorted black fruits," a "fabulously pure, concentrated nose" that "reveals the influence of toasty new oak," and a wine "full-bodied, massively concentrated, powerful and dense.” And those bottles have only deepened and improved with time.
OUR TASTING NOTES: Open the oldest of these wines, the 1997 Vigna La Rosa, and take a good, long whiff: dried roses, tar, orange peel, a note of old tobacco, the leather of a good, soft chair. The fruit has gone to its late amber phase, the cherries stopped being ripe, and the tannins have been worn down like river stones. The 2013 vintage — 16 years after — speaks in a confident register, with control and poise, and an attack that proceeds in soft, subtle layers, and takes its time to reveal itself. It’s a wine to sit with and explore, and so, too, is the 2005 vintage of the Vigna La Villa; we loved its perfume and definition, and the way its finish doesn't end so much as fade, and with wonderful slowness. The 2020 Barolo Serralunga, in magnum, is a wonderful tease of a wine, full of mystery and secrets, with an almost brooding dark cherry character and grip. The Barbaresco is the extrovert of the group, easy to adore, with vibrant aromatics and a rich texture.
THE STORY: Under the direction of chief winemaker Giorgio Lavagna, this legendary winery (launched by the first King of Italy) is putting out some of the best and most widely-acclaimed wines in the entire region. What makes Fontanafredda unique (and significant) is its status in Barolo's hierarchy. The estate holds the only MGA (the Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva, akin to the cru classification of France) named after a winery rather than a geographic location. Essentially, Fontanafredda is a monopole of Barolo, and controls an entire classified zone. This gives them unparalleled control over their terroir, allowing for the kind of consistent quality that is crucial to maintaining reputation. Their famous Vigna La Rosa vineyard within this MGA produces wines of particular grace: nuanced, floral expressions with the balanced acidity and elegant tannins that showcase Nebbiolo at its most refined.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH: The younger wines are practically crying out for Piedmont's lusty richness: a beef braised in Barolo, say, a tajarin with butter and shaved truffle, or a nice, thick wedge of aged Parmigiano. The 1997 and 2005 deserve the room to themselves, not to mention the company of people who'll appreciate and savor what’s in the glass.
FUN FACT: When King Vittorio Emanuele II bought Fontanafredda, he didn't have only wine on his mind: the estate was to be a love nest for his mistress Rosa Vercellana, nicknamed "Bella Rosina."
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate to ensure that your wines arrive with pristine provenance. Secure your bottles and cases today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2027. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NY, OK & TN. This offer will expire on Wednesday, November 18th, 2026.