The Aristocracy of Barolo: A Masterclass from the King of Bussia
2018 Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Barolo
In the hierarchy of Barolo, the name Aldo Conterno sits at the very top of the pyramid. Poderi Aldo Conterno is one of the five most important estates in Piedmont. Their top wine, the Granbussia Riserva, trades for over $800 a bottle. Their three single-vineyard icons—Cicala, Colonnello, and Romira…
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The Price Arbitrage: You can secure the exact same winemaking and terroir found in the estate's $300+ single-vineyard icons for roughly one-third of the price.
The King of Monforte: Aldo Conterno is the definition of blue-chip Barolo, holding the same prestige in Piedmont that DRC holds in Burgundy.
James Suckling: 94
Retail
$106.00
Best Online
$87.97
$85.00
$21 off
Our Price
Free shipping on orders over $85
Tasting notes
Aroma
Classic, noble Nebbiolo. A complex bouquet of dried red cherries, rose water, hazelnut skin, crushed mint, and a savory, ferrous minerality that speaks clearly of the Monforte soil.
Palate
Silky and refined. Unlike the mouth-drying tannins of a young Cicala, this wine glides across the palate. It offers medium-bodied flavors of raspberry, licorice, and tobacco, finishing with a polished, dusty texture that is persistent but approachable.
Red Wine Body Profile
Light
Bold
Body Profile
Structured
74/100 Intensity
Feather-light
Delicate
Lifted
Structured
Deep
Grapes
100% Nebbiolo
ABV
14.5%
Serving
59–63°F
Window
2025–2044
Product Description
The single-vineyard bottlings from this estate now trade for $250–$300. This 2018 blend offers the same legendary winemaking and Bussia terroir for a fraction of the investment.
In the hierarchy of Barolo, the name Aldo Conterno sits at the very top of the pyramid.
Poderi Aldo Conterno is one of the five most important estates in Piedmont. Their top wine, the Granbussia Riserva, trades for over $800 a bottle. Their three single-vineyard icons—Cicala, Colonnello, and Romirasco—now command $250 to $350 upon release.
Then there is this wine: the 2018 Barolo Bussia at $85.
This is the estate's foundational blend, sourced from the exact same limestone-rich hill in Monforte d'Alba that produces those triple-digit icons. It often includes fruit from vines under 20 years old within the famous Cru sites, effectively giving you "declassified" Grand Cru juice.
In 2018, a vintage defined by elegance rather than brute force, this blend actually outperformed many of its peers in terms of pure drinkability. While the single-vineyard wines are massive, tannic beasts requiring decades of sleep, the 2018 Bussia is open, floral, and gracious. It delivers the signature Conterno aromatic profile—tar, roses, and iron—without the mortgage-payment price tag.
