The Fantino cellars, via Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant
The wines of the Fantino brothers show that outstanding quality and value can still go hand in hand in Barolo. With critics like Antonio Galloni describing their property as “one of the last remaining top-flight under the radar estates in Piedmont,” we are pleased to offer these classically styled beauties while we still have access to reasonable quantities of the wines.

Alessandro and Gian Natale Fantino farm 8 hectares of vines in the historic heart of the Bussia Cru of Barolo, with most of their plantings 60-80 years old. The brothers are deeply informed by Alessandro’s 20 years spent running the cellar at Bartolo Mascarello, until Maria Teresa took the reins in 1998. All the hallmarks of traditional Barolo are found here: old vines in the vineyard, long macerations with native yeasts in the cellar, and plenty of time in botti for elevage. That all hints at their wines’ character, but there is something more at work here.  These show finesse and skillful polish, with refined structure that both allows for early enjoyment and provides them with the legs to age gracefully for years to come.

It's no secret that prices in Barolo have been creeping, or in some cases sprinting, upwards in recent years as the market has woken up to the potential of the zone. While many of the marquee wines are no longer widely accessible in both price and quantity, there remains a notable group of undervalued estates that are producing classic Barolo of outstanding quality. A & G Fantino belong towards the top of this group. We have three excellent wines from their cellars to bring you today - two stellar examples from the benchmark 2013 vintage that are sure to make Nebbiolo lovers swoon and a lovely 2016 Rosso that is a perennial favorite at the shop.

The wines below will be in stock early next week. Follow the links below to purchase directly from our site or call/email us if you need some assistance. The bottles below are offered on a first come, first served basis.

Cheers,
  
THE WINES
 
Alessandro & Gian Natale Fantino - Rosso dei Dardi 2016
24+ BOTTLES AVAILABLE
$19.99/BOTTLE
Rosso dei Dardi is a perfect introduction to the Fantino wines.  Mostly Nebbiolo with just a dash of Freisa and Dolcetto, the wine sees a short maceration and is aged entirely in steel.  It is all juicy red cherries and citrus peel with just a touch of earth. This is one of the most uplifting and sneakily complex wines at under $20 that we’ve ever come across and a long-time staff favorite.
 
Alessandro & Gian Natale Fantino - Vino Rosso, Laboro Disobedient 2013
24+ BOTTLES AVAILABLE
$63.99/BOTTLE
Laboro Disobedient was born out of a bureaucratic mistake that forced the Fantino brothers to declassify their 2005 Barolo Riserva. They decided to continue the practice starting in 2010, releasing a Barolo Riserva aged for 5 years in botti at the lowest legal category possible: red table wine. Disobedient labor may not technically be a Barolo, but it is one of the most pure and pleasurable wines made in the region. The recently released 2013 vintage is showing beautifully already. Extended time in barrel softened the tannic edge of vintage while preserving all of the floral rose and bright cherry perfume. Hints of blood orange, mint, bay, and allspice all peek out over incredibly silky tannins. An absolute joy to drink now, this has immense potential for the cellar as well.
 
Alessandro & Gian Natale Fantino - Barolo, Bussia, Cascina Dardi, Vigne Vecchie 2013
24+ BOTTLES AVAILABLE
$63.99/BOTTLE
This cuvée is sourced from the oldest parcel of vines owned by the Fantino Brothers, originally planted in the 1940’s in the Cascina Dardi cru. Vines of this age are very rare in Barolo because of how little fruit they produce; the Dardi brothers were forced to replant this vineyard after the 2013 vintage, marking this as the final release of this superlative cuvee. Expect deep cherry fruit with musky violets and earth laid against a more structured frame with more airy texture. While the Disobedient cuvee offers more immediate joy, this old-vine cuvée will show its magic over the long haul.