Vintage 2010 – surprising Barolo

While the general impression of Italy's 2010 vintage is one hampered by cool temperatures and lots of rain (see Vintage 2010 – Italy), more specific reports emerging from Piemonte hint at one of the finest vintages in the last 10 years, on a par with 2006 and 2001.

While visiting the Aldo Conterno estate in Monforte d'Alba recently, I immediately seized the chance to quiz Giacomo Conterno, Aldo's son responsible for vineyard management, about whether the rumours of 2010's success were true.

Giacomo regards the vintage as very particular. A wet spring was followed by an early summer, with...